You will receive a set of plastic retainers a few days after you finish your active treatment. Retainers keep your teeth straight.
If you do not wear your retainer, your teeth are very likely to drift towards their original positions. Once your teeth have drifted, it will be very difficult to correct without further Orthodontic treatment – Yes, braces again!
Sometimes your Orthodontist will attach a fixed retainer to the back of your front teeth. This is in addition to your plastic retainer. The plastic retainer is the most important retainer and should not be substituted with a fixed retainer.
We advise that you wear your retainers at night for as long as you want your teeth to remain straight – so essentially forever! You will be advised to wear them full-time for a few weeks at the start before moving to night wear.
The retainers will affect your speech in the short term until your tongue becomes accustomed to them. Practice speaking aloud with the retainer in place. Your speech will return to normal within a couple of days.
You may also find you have excess saliva to begin with. This is quite normal and will quickly pass.
If you have a fixed retainer (wire behind the teeth) then you will need to take extra care to keep it clean. You will need to remove your retainers when eating or drinking anything other than water.
It is important you brush well twice per day and use a fluoride toothpaste. You should also gently brush the retainer, taking care not to snap the plastic. A daily fluoride mouthwash should be used last thing at night, after toothbrushing.
If the retainer is removable but you have been asked to wear it full-time, it should only be removed for cleaning. When the retainer is not in your mouth it should be in its protective box. Dogs love retainers, so make sure you keep the retainer box up high and out of reach. Do not click the brace in and out with your tongue as this can cause the brace to break.
You should always bring your retainers to your follow-up visits.
Retainers are crucial to maintaining the results of your orthodontic treatment by preventing your teeth from shifting back to their original positions.
Retainers may feel slightly uncomfortable initially, but most patients quickly adjust to wearing them. They should not cause pain.
It is recommended to remove retainers while eating to prevent damage. Be sure to store them in their case during meals.
It’s advisable to remove retainers during sports activities to avoid damage. If there are concerns about teeth grinding or clenching during sports, discuss the use of a mouthguard with your orthodontist.
If you want to book a free consultation, or to discuss our brace fitting treatments. We have a range of treatments to help give you straighter teeth and a beautiful smile!
Opening Hours:
Balbriggan Braces, 61 Drogheda St, Tankardstown, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, K32 D252, Ireland
