Wearing a Retainer After Straightening Your Teeth Is Essential for Continued Alignment

Congratulations on completing your orthodontic treatment! Whether you wear braces or clear aligners, wearing a retainer is essential to maintaining the symmetry of your newly aligned teeth and bite. While braces or aligners represent phase one of your orthodontic journey, retainers are crucial for ensuring lasting success.

Why Are Retainers Needed After Braces?

Your newly straightened teeth need a placeholder to keep them in their new positions. In orthodontics, this process is called retention, which means your teeth stay in their new spots instead of moving back to their old positions.

The cementum, a tissue layer that holds your teeth, weakens when teeth are moved manually. Similar to a rubber band, this cementum layer tries to pull your gums back to their original position after orthodontic treatment. Wearing a retainer keeps the cementum in its new position, allowing your teeth and tissues to fully adapt over time.

If you choose not to wear a retainer, your cementum and gums will move back to their original positions. Retainers function by keeping the tissue in place after it has been adjusted. With the assistance of the retainer, your teeth will gradually adapt to their new positions over time.

How Your Retainer Supports Your Smile and How To Care for It

• Stabilizes your bite: This oral appliance allows your soft tissues and bones to adjust to their new positions when worn consistently. Stabilization reduces unwanted shifting.
• Protects your mouth from improperly erupting wisdom teeth: If you had orthodontic treatment during your teenage years, a retainer prevents newly erupting wisdom teeth from disrupting your newly straightened teeth.
• Keeps your bones and gums aligned with your teeth: Your retainer ensures that your teeth, bones, and gums remain strong and stable for years to come.
• Prevents the need for additional orthodontic treatment later: Properly wearing your retainer (both night and day, as recommended) means your teeth won’t shift out of the desired alignment you worked so hard to achieve. Wearing your retainer properly as recommended (both day and night) prevents your teeth from shifting out of the desired alignment achieved through orthodontic treatment.

Types of Retainers

• Fixed or bonded retainer: A sturdy wire, which is bent around the inside of your teeth, is cemented in place to keep your teeth aligned and stable. You should brush and floss daily to keep your retainer free from harmful plaque formation. It is also important to keep up with all scheduled routine dental cleanings so that hardened plaque (tartar) is removed and doesn’t irritate your teeth and gums.
• Hawley retainer: The main part of this popular retainer is created from a combination of plastic, acrylic, and metal bars. These bars are carefully shaped to fit around your recently aligned teeth, both on the upper and lower parts of your mouth. The great thing about this retainer is that you’re able to remove it whenever you need to eat or clean it.
• Clear plastic retainer: This clear retainer, made of plastic, molds to your teeth for an ideal fit while holding them in place. Clean it daily to maintain its best appearance and feel!

What Not To Do With Your Retainer

Make sure to follow the instructions and wear your removable retainer as directed. When cleaning it, use cool water instead of a dishwasher, hot water, alcohol, or bleach to avoid warping. Remember not to wear your retainer while eating, and always keep it in a sturdy container case when you take it out to prevent loss. Avoid using abrasive cleaners like toothpaste or baking soda when cleaning your clear retainer; instead, gently brush it with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Lastly, resist the urge to swim with your retainer, as this can lead to loss or damage.

We hope that you are enjoying your new, straightened teeth and that you are committed to keeping them looking their best by using your retainer correctly. After investing in orthodontic treatment, it is important to take care of your teeth, gums, and retainer every day to maintain the results. If you have any questions about orthodontics or how to care for your retainer, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to provide assistance and support!