Now that you have your confident smile and beautifully straight teeth, it’s important you keep them that way. Retainers are designed to do just that and you must wear them as instructed. If you do not wear then as instructed your teeth will drift back towards their original positions and it may be difficult to correct them. All our patients wear removable Essix retainers , however some patients need to have fixed retainer’s as well.
How long will I have to wear my retainers?
We advise all our patients to wear their retainers for as long as they want their teeth to remain straight. If you reduce the wear or stop wearing your retainers you should expect your teeth to move a little or in some cases a lot!
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Changes in the position of your teeth can continue throughout life and are part of the normal aging process. The only way to have permanently straight teeth is to continue to wear your retainers throughout life.
How might Retainers affect me?
If you have been advised to wear your retainers during the day, you may find it affects your speech very slightly but this returns to normal within a couple of days. It is advised to remove them to eat or drink. However, most retainers are worn whilst you are asleep.
How do I look after my retainers?
Always rinse your retainers with cool water after removing them. Use a toothbrush to gently clean them supporting them in the palm of your hand. Do not use toothpaste to clean them as it is abrasive and can cause tiny scratches which can make the retainers brittle and likely to break. We recommend that you sterilise your retainers once a week in cold water with a solution such as Retainer Brite or Miltons to keep them fresh and clean.
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Always push your retainers in with your fingers ensuring that they are fully seated on all the teeth. Never bite your retainers into place as they are more likely to break. Always store them in the box provided to prevent them from being lost, broken or eaten by the dog!
What happens if I lose or break my retainers?
It is very important that you contact us as soon as possible so we can arrange an appointment for new retainers to be made. Please remember that if you do not wear your retainers your teeth will move!
Do I need to have my retainers checked?
We advise you to come back to have your retainers checked at 3 months and usually again 9 months. After wearing your retainers for a year, we will discharge you from our care but we do recommend that you continue to wear your retainers every night for the long term to prevent your teeth from moving.
