Retainer Care

Here at Wilson Orthodontics, our team looks at orthodontics as an investment in your smile. We want to help you protect that investment! The fact is, your teeth will move throughout your whole life whether you had braces or not. Now that we have your teeth in the position that we want them, please follow these instructions to insure that your investment is protected:

• Wear your retainers full time, until Dr. Wilson instructs otherwise.
• Take your retainers out when eating...and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunchrooms or restaurants.)
• Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque and eliminates odors. Efferdent or other orthodontic appliance cleaners can be used but these do not take the place of brushing.
• When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case. Pets love to chew on them!
• Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading, or singing aloud to get used to them faster.
• Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken call us immediately. An investment has been placed in your smile so we want to protect that investment!
• If you have any questions or concerns about your retainers, or your retainers need adjusting, call us. Do not try to adjust them yourself.
• Always bring your retainers to your appointments.
• Retainer replacement is expensive...with proper care they will last for years!
• Remove retainers when swimming.
• Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine, and napkins.