One aspect of Invisalign orthodontic treatment that is less frequently talked about is the importance of wearing your retainer after you’re finished wearing your aligners. Wearing your retainer at night as directed by your orthodontist in Orlando — whether for a few months or for the rest of your life — will stabilize the new position of your teeth and maintain your new smile for the long term.
Just as important as wearing your retainer, though, is how orthodontic patients care for their Invisalign retainers in Orlando. After months of treatment and significant discipline and financial investment, you wouldn’t sabotage your results, right? That’s exactly what you’ll do if you fail to care for your retainer properly. Taking proper care of your retainer is important, but not complicated. Here’s a checklist of eight guidelines to follow.
Clean it frequently. Commit to keeping your retainer (at least) as clean as you keep your teeth by scrubbing it with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and water every time you take it out.
Up-level your cleaning by soaking it. Soak your retainer for five to 10 minutes using tablets of retainer cleaner solution. This isn’t an alternative to brushing it regularly, but an extra step to keep it as clean as possible.
Protect it from heat. Your retainer won’t be an off-the-shelf unit or a boil-in-the-bag device. It’ll be custom-made to fit your teeth perfectly and to keep them in their perfect positions. If the retainer is allowed to get too hot — by being placed in boiling water or left on a windowsill or in a stifling car — it may melt, warp or soften to uselessness. When rinsing and cleaning it, use just lukewarm water.
Resist the urge to wrap it in a napkin. If we’ve heard it once, we’ve heard it 1,000 times. I took it out while eating dinner, and wrapped it in a napkin so no one had to look at it. Then it just got swept away with the dishes, I guess! Your retainer will come with a container to keep it safe. Use it.
Remember that it has a lifespan. The orthodontist near you who provides your retainer will estimate its approximate lifespan but pay attention to how it fits and looks. If you noticed it beginning to weaken, warp or fit differently have it inspected by your orthodontist and replaced if the time has come.
Handle Invisalign retainers near you carefully. When you put your retainer on, be sure it’s completely in position. Take it off with two hands, one on each side. Resist the urge to push it off with your tongue or pull it off with one finger. Both methods run the risk of twisting your retainer over time.
Never put your retainer back in without having brushed your teeth. Any food particles, sugars, and acids in your mouth will get trapped between your retainer and your teeth where they can’t get swept away by saliva or your tongue. That’s a recipe for tooth decay and even staining your retainer. Before you put your retainer in, always brush and rinse your teeth carefully (especially after eating or drinking anything other than water).
Develop good habits. In addition to the habits we’ve talked about above, pick the perfect spot to keep your retainer — in its container — when you’re not wearing it. Make sure it’s out of the reach of pets. (We’ve heard that one 1,000 times, too.)
Remember, your retainer only works while you’re wearing it. Wear it as often and for as long as your orthodontist in Orlando recommended so you can keep your new and hard-won smile for your lifetime.