Retainers are certainly the superheroes followed under orthodontic treatment, rescuing the gorgeous smile that you have been dreaming of wearing off in the first place. Once the braces are removed, the retainers help keep the teeth areas in place and prevent them from slipping back to their original positions.
Consulting with a reputed cosmetic dentist for your family in Fairfield will be a valid decision to understand the importance of retainers and the ways they can shape your teeth areas. Read on to understand how long you need to wear retainers and what to follow concerning post-brace care.
How Long Should You Be Wearing Retainers Post Braces?
You must wear braces full-time for months after removing your braces. This prolonged wearing will let your teeth settle to their newly composed positions and stabilize the surrounding bones. After the initial period, the cosmetic dentist shall advise you to wear retainers by night for a year or more. Based on your post-brace care condition, the orthodontist can even recommend that you wear retainers indefinitely and gradually decrease them over time based on your potential recovery.
If you had faced a severe orthodontic problem that had to be treated through extensive treatment, or if the teeth had been significantly moved during the treatment process, you might be wearing retainers indefinitely or longer. On the other hand, if you have a valid history of tooth movement, then the orthodontist shall recommend you wear them indefinitely.
Your lifestyle and age are crucial in deciding the time frame to wear retainers for post-brace care. For example, wearing retainers can be more beneficial if your teeth can take their place as you age, so indulging in a contact sport or grinding your teeth at night can lead the orthodontist to suggest wearing a specific type of retainer to protect your overall teeth.
Caring Your Retainer
If you have been prescribed to wear retainers all day for months or years, maintaining the retainer in perfect shape must be important. Proper care from your side to the retainer will let it do its job and keep your teeth areas aligned and straight.
For Removable Retainers
- Place and store your retainer in the provided case or holder when not in use.
- Keep the retainer away from your pets and any heat-inducing objects.
- Brush the retainers and soak them in the denture-cleaning product regularly, per the orthodontist’s prescribed cleaning method.
- Do not consume any other beverages other than water while wearing your retainer. Soda beverages can let various particles get caught between the teeth and the retainer, further leading to decay conditions.
For Fixed Retainers
- Be sure to brush and floss the retainers diligently. The orthodontist recommends using an interproximal brush to remove tartar and plaque build-up in and around the fixed retainers.
Every other type of retainer requires care, and the timeframe required to wear them depends upon the factors that allowed you to wear braces and the way you maintained them neat and clean in the first place. Proper retainer care will help you recover your lost smile and relish your teeth like before.
Conclusion
By now, you must have understood the reasons for wearing retainers, the post-care requirements, and the possible ways it can help you recover after following the braces method. Although the prospect of wearing a retainer for longer periods can sound daunting, it’s just a small price you must pay to straighten up the teeth areas and achieve a confident smile.
