How are retainers cared for?
Fixed retainers hardly need any care:
- The only precaution you should take is to make sure that they do not become detached from the tooth and to maintain proper hygiene, taking care that tartar does not accumulate between the teeth.
The orthodontist will check at each check-up that it is well cemented or bonded and that there is no tartar build-up, since the gum can become inflamed, leading to the appearance of gingivitis.
- You should also be careful when biting into certain foods, e.g. a snack, as you have to be careful when biting and with the “leverage effect” when bringing the snack forward, as, in that case, it can come unstuck.
- Do not bite your nails, this habit can lead to tooth movement and the lingual retainer becoming detached. removable retainers or orthodontic splints do require a series of care that we will detail below:
- Cleaning of the splints: removable retainers should be washed every time they are removed, at least once a day, since they are in continuous contact with saliva and tartar. Because of this, they can get a bad odor, hence the importance of cleaning them daily. They are usually brushed with a toothbrush (not the same one you use to brush your teeth), cold water and neutral hand soap(do not clean them with toothpaste, as they become white instead of transparent). In addition, you can use prosthesis tablets as a cleaning complement, which will eliminate the particles that produce bad odor, as well as the most resistant bacteria that remain in it.
- Remove it when eating: it is important to remove it when you eat, as the retainer can become an accumulation of bacteria and lose its esthetic properties of transparency.
- Keep them in a box as long as they are out of the mouth. This may seem silly, but it is more common than you think to lose or throw them away by keeping them in a napkin.
If you follow all this care, you will not have any problems and your teeth will remain in the same final position for life.
