Article by:
Dr. Eric Gibbs
When Should You Wear Your Retainer?
Retainers should be worn at all times, including sleeping, unless you have been specifically instructed otherwise. If you are not wearing your retainer for a period of time it should be placed in the case for safekeeping. If you are eating and do not have the case with you, you should eat with your retainer in your mouth. Avoid wrapping your retainer in napkins as they are easily forgotten and accidentally end up in the trash.
When Should You NOT Wear Your Retainer?
Do not wear your retainer when playing contact sports and swimming. You can damage the retainer as well as the inside of your mouth.
What Can I Expect From My New Retainer?
You will experience a little difficulty in speaking for a few days. Our recommendation is to practice speaking with the retainer in your mouth. Your speech will return to normal.
How Do I Clean My Retainer?
After each meal, take out your retainer and wash it as best as you can. Use your toothbrush and toothpaste to brush all surfaces of the appliance, then rinse with cool water. Never rinse your retainer in hot water.
If your retainer picks up flavors or odors from foods you may soak it in mouthwash or use cleaning tablets such as Retainer Brite. Retainer cleaners such as these should be used NO MORE THAN once a week.
How to Clean Your Retainer With Retainer Brite:
Drop one tablet into warm water
Place appliance in blue solution
Leave appliance in solution for 3-5 minutes only
Rinse appliance thoroughly
How Do I Store My Retainer?
You should take precautions to properly store your new retainer and avoid damaging or losing it. It’s an expensive piece of equipment and is vital to keep your smile straight. When you aren’t wearing your retainer you should store it in the case provided to you by your NYC Orthodontist, Dr. Gibbs. Retainers can break easily. For this reason, you should never shove them in your pockets or backpack or drop them in your purse. Also, avoid wrapping your retainer in napkins while eating. A retainer often ends up in the trash when you wrap them in napkins. If you place your retainer n your pocket, you are likely to forget about it. Nothing destroys a retainer faster than a trip through the washer and dryer! An unprotected retainer can easily be damaged and you will face replacement and repair fees. So do yourself and your bank account a favor and always use the approved storage case provided to you.
Most common reasons for lost or broken retainers/appliances:
Wrapped in a napkin and accidentally thrown away.
Dog ate it (really)!!
The retainer in the pocket can crack in half or fall out and be lost.
The retainer went through the wash cycle and melted from the heat of the washer/dryer.
Caring For Your Bonded Lingual Retainer
If we have placed a glued wire behind your lower front teeth this will be your permanent retainer. We place this type of retainer to reduce the possibility of relapse. If you decide to have this retainer removed, we will recommend that a removable retainer be made in order to maintain the position of the teeth.
Read more: https://www.gibbsortho.com/retainer-care/
Gibbs Orthodontic Associates, P.C: Invisalign, Braces and Dentofacial Orthopedics
40 E 84th St,
New York, NY 10028
(212) 535-4111
Web Address https://www.gibbsortho.com/
https://gibbsortho.business.site/
Our location on the map: https://g.page/gibbsortho
Nearby Locations:
Upper East Side | Yorkville | East Harlem | Manhattan Valley | Upper West Side | Lenox Hill
10021 | 10022 | 10023 | 10024 | 10025 | 10028 | 10029
Working Hours:
Monday: 9AM–5:15PM
Tuesday: 9AM–6:30PM
Wednesday: 8:15AM–7PM
Thursday: 9AM–6PM
Friday: 9AM–7PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Payment: cash, check, credit cards.
