Retainers and Appliances
Retainers and Appliances
After you complete your orthodontic care and have your braces removed, you will likely want to keep your smile in that perfect alignment for life. Once you finish your treatment, Dr. Rohini Singh will give you a retainer to keep your smile in alignment. It is important that you wear the retainer daily according to our dentist and team’s instructions. You should also bring your retainer to each appointment.
To keep your smile looking its best, you should wear your removable appliance at all times, especially while you sleep. The retainer can be removed while eating, swimming or playing sports. Initially, you may find the retainer difficult to speak with, but after a few days of use, your speech will feel completely normal and natural.
In order to keep your appliance at its best, it is important to clean the appliance daily. While brushing your teeth each day, you should clean your retainer with toothpaste. For a deeper cleaning, you can use denture cleaner to refresh your retainer. For patients wearing a bonded wire retainer behind the teeth, it is important that you clean the wire and area around it each day. It is also imperative that you floss each day while wearing the bonded retainer.
Our team at All Dental & Braces and Cosmetic Dentistry wants to remind you of the importance of properly storing your retainer. When you aren’t wearing your retainer, you need to keep it in its plastic case. This case is the safest place for the retainer since it prevents misplacement and breakage. You shouldn’t wrap your appliance in tissues or napkins because there is a higher chance of you or someone else throwing your retainer away. Placing the retainer in your pocket can lead to breakage of the appliance.
Pets love chewing on retainers, so it is important to keep the appliance away from your furry friends. It is also important to keep your appliance away from heat. Boiling the retainer, even to sterilize the appliance, can lead to breakage. If you want a deep cleaning, please bring the appliance to our team so we can disinfect it for you.
Retainers that are lost or broken will need to be replaced at cost to the patient. If you have any questions about your oral appliance, we recommend that you call our office at 254-200-1893. Our team can help you get a custom retainer in Killeen, Texas, at our office. We look forward to caring for your smile.
Eating With Braces
There are some foods that you should avoid while wearing braces in order to prevent your braces from being damaged. These include:
- Chewy foods – such as bagels and licorice
- Crunchy foods – such as popcorn, ice and chips
- Sticky foods – such as caramel and chewing gum
- Hard foods – such as nuts and hard candies
- Foods that require biting into – such as corn on the cob, raw carrots and uncut apples
Soreness Caused by Braces and Appliances
Your teeth and mouth may feel tender or sore when you begin wearing braces. This should go away within a few days. Your lips, cheeks and tongue may become irritated for the first few weeks while your mouth adjusts. Our dentist can provide you with wax to put over your braces to help relieve tenderness and discomfort. You may also take a mild pain reliever.
Loose Teeth
Your teeth might feel a little loose as your treatment progresses. This is normal and is caused by the repositioning of your teeth. Once your teeth have achieved their proper position, they will stop feeling loose.
Loose Wires and Bands
If the wires and bands on your braces come loose, call our office immediately so that we can check your braces and make any needed repairs or adjustments. If a piece of your appliance breaks off, save the piece and bring it with you.
Take Care of Your Appliances
Damaged appliances increase the length of your treatment. Your teeth and jaw can only move into the proper positions when your appliances are in good condition and are worn consistently. Take good care of your appliances and wear your headgear, retainer, rubber bands or other appliances as directed.
Sports, Musical Instruments and Braces
You can still play sports and musical instruments while wearing braces. We recommend that you wear an athletic mouth guard to protect your teeth, gums and appliances during sporting activities. You may need to make a few adjustments while playing a musical instrument, but your braces should not cause any problems.
If you have any other questions about life with braces, please feel free to contact our office.