Retainers

Why do I need to wear a retainer?

After treatment with braces or Invisalign® aligners, your teeth will want to shift back to their original positions. A retainer will help to hold them in alignment so you can enjoy your stunning results for a lifetime.

If you stop wearing your retainer, it will result in the need for further orthodontic treatment to realign your smile. We don’t want all your hard work during treatment to go to waste, so our team will give you detailed instructions for the proper care and use of your retainers.

Top tips for retainer care

Dr. Caswell and the team will discuss retainer care with you at length at the end of your treatment with us. To learn what to expect, or to refresh your memory, here are our top tips for caring for your removable retainers.

• Wear your retainers exactly as instructed by Dr. Caswell to ensure lasting results.
• Remove your retainers for eating and brushing. When you remove them, use your hands and not your tongue. Removing retainers with your tongue can damage them.
• To clean your retainers, gently brush them with warm water. Toothpaste is not necessary as it can be abrasive and damaging. If you wish, there are commercial retainer cleansers that you can purchase.
• Keep your retainers in their case when not being worn. Avoid wrapping them in napkins as this makes them very easy to throw away!
• If you do throw your retainers out by accident (and can retrieve them) simply clean them with antibacterial soap and rinse them thoroughly.
• Whatever you do, do NOT clean your retainers with boiling water. This will warp your retainers and render them useless. The same goes for leaving your retainers in a hot car or windowsill. Extreme heat of any kind can warp your retainers.
• Keep your retainers away from pets, as they are likely to chew on things that smell like you.
• Bring your retainers to every appointment, as they may require adjustment.
• If your retainers have become lost or damaged, contact us immediately so we can make a replacement.