Search results for 'retainer' (2)
Retainers are expensive, and no one wants to pay for theirs more than once in a lifetime. However, keeping this tiny, costly, everyday-use appliance safe can feel like a monumental task. It definitely helps if you know the hazards to watch out for. While there are millions of ways to lose or destroy your retainer, they almost always fall prey to just three: The Crumpled Up Napkin You know the scene. You are sitting there at lunch with a bunch of your friends and you don’t want to ruin everyone’s appetite by displaying your slobbery retainer in full view of everyone at the table, so you wrap it up in a napkin. Once you start talking and eating, your retainer is lightyears away from your thoughts. When lunch is over, you throw out the contents of your tray, not even thinking about the expensive gadget that is now intermingling with cold spaghetti and soggy lettuce in the trash can. If you don’t want to spend all of 4th period dumpster-diving through some pretty gnarly stuff and still probably never see it again, don’t wrap your retainer in a napkin! Always keep it in your case when it isn’t in your mouth. Well-Intentioned But Misguided Cleaning If your retainer has spent the better part of an afternoon absorbing garbage juice (or in any other equally disgusting place), you will want to disinfect it before putting it back into your mouth. However, many retainers have met their demise through misguided cleaning. Never attempt to disinfect your retainer by boiling it in water, running it through your dishwasher, sending it for a spin in your washing machine, or blasting it in the microwave. Simply use warm water and antibacterial dish soap. Fido Dogs love nothing more than a colorful, plastic, slobber-encrusted retainer! If you leave it out they won’t hesitate to snatch it and turn it into their next chew toy. With big dogs, your retainer isn’t even safe in its case. If it’s not in your mouth, keep your retainer in its case and out of reach of both pets and toddlers. Keeping your retainer intact for life might seem like an impossible task, but it has been done! Treat it like the valuable, expensive item that it is and you should be able to keep it safe. Most importantly, be deliberate about what you do with it. If you lose or break your retainer, Pearl Orthodontics is here for you. Even if we didn’t fit your original retainer, we can help you get back on track. Click here to learn more about retainers!
A lot of people think that, once their braces are removed, the orthodontic process is over. That is far from the truth. Braces are just the first step in realigning your teeth. The next step is to maintain your teeth’s new alignment by wearing a retainer. If you are struggling to find the motivation to wear your retainer, here are three good reasons why retainers are important that should convince you to wear one as instructed. Allows Your Teeth to Stabilize Over the last couple of months or years of wearing braces, your teeth have been gradually shifting into the correct alignment. As much as you might wish that your teeth would just stay put after your braces are removed, they need time to adjust to their new positions without help from any brackets or wires. Wearing a retainer ensures that your teeth can acclimate to life without braces and minimizes the amount of shifting taking place. Makes Way for Your Wisdom Teeth If you haven’t already had your wisdom teeth removed, wearing a retainer after braces will help ensure that, once they do come in, they won’t crowd or damage your teeth. Since wearing a retainer helps keep your teeth in place, there is less of a risk that your emerging wisdom teeth will mess things up—or even require that you get braces again. Furthermore, it will make it easier for your oral surgeon to extract your wisdom teeth when the time comes. Ensures that You Don’t Need Braces Again This is one of the biggest reasons why you should wear your retainer as instructed by your orthodontist. Orthodontists all too frequently get repeat customers because these clients were unwilling or reluctant to wear their retainers after braces. Don’t let this be you! Wearing your retainer appropriately and consistently will ensure that you don’t have to start the process all over again and that you can forever enjoy your beautifully straight smile. These are only a couple of good reasons to wear your retainer. In keeping your teeth aligned, your retainer can also directly impact your overall oral health and general wellbeing. With straighter teeth and a healthier smile, you will feel more confident and your teeth will be less susceptible to future health problems. Consequently, don’t neglect to wear your retainer! Ready to embrace all the benefits of orthodontic care? Then look no further than Pearl Orthodontics! Click here to schedule an appointment so that you can achieve the great smile that you deserve!