• Wear your retainers full time for the first year or until the doctor instructs otherwise. Part time wear is considered approximately 12 hours (after dinner to the next morning).
• We recommend eating with most retainers. An Essix, a clear shell retainer, must be removed when eating. If you do remove your retainer to eat, always rinse it off and put it in its case! Never wrap it in a napkin or leave it on a lunch tray. (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.)
• Always rinse your retainer before storing it in its case. Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque, and eliminates odors. Efferdent or other orthodontic appliance cleaners can be used, but do not take the place of brushing.
• Never soak your retainer in mouth wash as this will cause it to get brittle over time making it more susceptible to breakage.
• If you have the need to sterilize your retainer, use antibacterial soap and rinse with warm water. Never use boiling water!
• When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case. Pets love to chew on them!
• Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading, or singing out loud to get used to them faster.
• Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken call us immediately.
• If you have any questions or concerns about your retainers, or your retainers need adjusting, call us. Do not try to adjust them yourself.
• Always bring your retainers to your appointments.
• Retainer replacement is expensive... with proper care they will last for years!
• For long-term retention we recommended keeping your lower bonded retainer for a minimum of five years. Many patients choose to keep them through out their lifetime. There is no specific end-point to your retention period, as teeth continually move. Removable retainers should be worn 2-3 nights a week after the first two years, this may vary due to the age of the patient. Retainers are like eyeglasses that are worn daily - they wear out. Worn-out retainers must be replaced to maintain that beautiful smile.

Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine, mouth wash and napkins.

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