Instructions for wearing retainers:
- After your braces are removed, wear the retainers 24 hours a day. After 10 weeks of wearing them full time, wear them every night for the rest of your life, or your teeth will move.
- If your retainers ever feel tight, you’re not wearing them enough.
- Never wrap them in a tissue, leave them lying around, or put them in your pocket.
- Never place your retainers in hot water, near a hot surface, or leave them in your car on a hot day. The heat will warp the plastic, causing them not to fit properly.
- Pets love to chew on the retainers! Keep them out of their reach.
- To keep your retainers clean, take them out and brush them well when brushing your teeth.
- Occasionally, your retainers may get a stale taste, odor, or a white calcium build-up. If this happens, simply soak them in a denture cleaner for 10 minutes.
What to expect:
- Your teeth may be uncomfortable for a couple of days. Please continue to wear them. The discomfort will go away in a few days.
- Speech may be affected initially while wearing your retainers. Practice speaking or reading out loud.
- If you lose or break a retainer, please call.