Plunkett Orthodontics

Retainer Instructions

retainers

  • Wear your retainers full-time, day and night, even when you are eating, until the doctor instructs otherwise. (Remember: It is when you are biting and chewing that you put pressures on your teeth, making them more likely to move)
  • Initially you may find it difficult to talk. Practice talking, reading or singing out loud and within a day or two you will be talking just fine.
  • If your retainer is not in your mouth it should ALWAYS be in the retainer case provided. Otherwise they can be broken or lost, and family pets love to chew them! 
  • Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, call us immediately.
  • Retainer replacements are expensive, but with proper care they will last for years
  • Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine, and napkins! (Experience tells us most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants).
  • Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and water. Use warm but never hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque and eliminates odours. Using Sterident® or other orthodontic appliance cleaners can keep the retainer fresh, but does not take the place of brushing.
  • If a build-up develops on your retainer, you can soak it in white vinegar to soften the build-up, and then brush it away. 
  • If you have any questions or concerns about your retainers, or if it needs adjusting, call us. Do not try to adjust retainers yourself!
  • Always bring your retainers to your appointments.

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