The Importance of Retainers: Maintaining Your Beautiful Smile
For many patients, the next step after completing orthodontic treatment with braces is putting on a retainer in order to keep a perfect and enduringly beautiful smile. The role that the retainers play is to help keep the teeth aligned and avoid them returning to their original place.
Let us elaborate below on the importance of the retainers in your orthodontic journey:
- Retaining Teeth in Position:
Among the roles a retainer plays include preventing your teeth from getting back to the original position they were in before treatment. If not for a retainer, there is a possibility that your teeth will gradually move out of place, undoing the progress made with braces.
- Types of Retainers:The retainers can be of two types, either removable or fixed, and are available in different kinds. They are usually made of clear plastic material and are removable for eating and cleaning purposes.
- Wearing Schedule:
Permanent retainers are fixed behind your teeth, so they aren’t visible when you smile. Your orthodontist will tell you how often and how long to wear your retainer. In the beginning, he or she may want you to wear it full-time, taking it out only for eating and cleaning. Gradually, you might be able to wear your retainer just at night after your teeth have become stable.
- Oral Hygiene:
Good oral hygiene is very important with retainers in the mouth because a retainer needs to be cleaned regularly with a toothbrush and toothpaste to get rid of plaque and bacteria, though hot water should not be used, as it may damage the retainer.
- Retainer Care:
Apart from this, when it comes to cleaning your retainer, it is important to take care of it. Avoid bending the retainer, as it may cause deformation or misalignment. Keep your retainer in its case when it is not in your mouth so that it is protected from damage.
- Progress Monitoring:
An orthodontist shall monitor your progress while using a retainer in order to ensure that your teeth are maintained in their desired positions. Through routine checkups, your orthodontist gets an opportunity to make any adjustments that are necessary to maintain the alignment of your teeth.
- Long-Term Retainer Wear:
Wearing a retainer may feel a little uncomfortable at first, but it will be necessary for maintaining your smile in the long run. Wearing a retainer often, as indicated by your orthodontist, helps make sure that the teeth stay aligned and straightened.
- Lifestyle Considerations:
Some other lifestyle considerations might involve playing sports or musical instruments. Be sure to ask your orthodontist how to protect your retainer during such activities.
In short, a retainer is instrumental in holding your teeth in position, thus ensuring the orthodontic treatment results last you a lifetime. Following instructions given by your orthodontist on how to wear and take care of your retainer guarantees you have that beautiful smile for years to come.