How to care for retainers
Good retainer care relies on a high level of oral hygiene, as well as treating your retainers with care. Regular brushing and flossing, along with avoiding sugary foods, ensures bonded retainers stay clean.
Clear retainers should be removed and inserted carefully. If you’re eating or playing contact sports, clear retainers should be removed.
Only use warm or cool water to wash your retainer, as hot water may warp the shape.
What if I lose or damage my retainers?
If you’ve lost your retainers, it’s important to make an appointment to get fresh ones fitted as soon as you can. Newly straightened teeth “remember” their old, unwanted positions and will rapidly slip back into them without regular retainer use.
For teeth that have been left a while without retainers, we may recommend further orthodontic treatment to bring them back into alignment.
Although retainers are quite robust, if you do damage your retainer, we can usually fix it for you. If you notice damage to your retainer, don’t use it, as it may chafe or rub when broken. Bring the retainer (along with any bits if fragments have snapped off) when you attend your appointment and we will assess whether it can be repaired, or whether a new device is needed.
Call 07 3067 4113 to book an appointment.