Caring for Your Dental Retainer
December 17, 2019 Image Credit:After spending between 18 months and 2 years wearing orthodontic braces, we’re guessing that you won’t want your teeth shifting back into their original positions once the braces come off. To maintain your beautiful new smile, it’s important to wear your dental retainer and take proper care of it.
Caring For Your Dental Retainer
Below are some tips on how to make sure you’re properly caring for your dental retainer, allowing it to keep your teeth in place for years to come:- Properly clean your dental retainer – The first goal of cleaning your dental retainer is to keep it free from bacteria. Dental retainers can be cleaned with either non-abrasive toothpaste or unscented hand-soap. After scrubbing the retainer gently, make sure you thoroughly rinse it with cool water. Refrain from ever using bleach or soap containing bleach on dental retainers.
- Use a separate toothbrush – When cleaning your dental retainer, please use a separate toothbrush from the one you use to clean your teeth. This will help keep the retainer free from bacteria and makes sure that it’s as clean as possible. Once your retainer is cleaned, store it in a glass of clean water when it’s not being worn.
- Avoid boiling your retainer or using mouthwash – Avoid using mouthwash to clean a dental retainer because it can cause the retainer to weaken or become stained. Additionally, avoid boiling your retainer as this can alter its shape, rendering it useless. You’ll have to spend extra time and money having your dental retainer replaced.