{"id":405,"date":"2021-09-23T17:10:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-23T17:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dgdental.com\/blog\/?p=405"},"modified":"2021-10-13T17:13:09","modified_gmt":"2021-10-13T17:13:09","slug":"6-tips-for-caring-for-your-retainer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dgdental.com\/blog\/6-tips-for-caring-for-your-retainer\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Tips for Caring for Your Retainer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"placing<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

At your last Invisalign<\/a> appointment, you can\u2019t help but look forward to life without dental devices. However, your orthodontic care doesn\u2019t end when the clear aligners are removed. To preserve your hard-earned results, you must wear a retainer for the rest of your life. If you neglect to do so, your teeth could move back into their original pre-orthodontic positions. Aside from consistently wearing your retainer, you must also take proper care of it. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Regularly Clean Your Retainer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like your teeth, make sure you regularly clean your retainer to eliminate tartar that can build up on the surface. After each use, carefully scrub your retainer with a toothbrush and some water. But don\u2019t use toothpaste! It can be abrasive and damage your retainer, making it difficult to keep clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remove It Before Eating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You should always remove your retainer before eating to prevent food and plaque from becoming trapped. When taking it off, do not twist it with your tongue or pull it to one side as it could get damaged. Instead, loosen it in several places, then slowly ease it off. Don\u2019t forget to put it in its designated storage case!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wear Your Retainer Often<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s worth noting that retainers only work if you use them as directed. Make sure you wear yours as often as your orthodontist recommends it! It\u2019s the best way to ensure your smile stays perfect for life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid Cleaning with Harsh Chemicals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, water and a toothbrush are sufficient for cleaning your retainer. If you decide to soak your retainer for a deeper clean, you can add baking soda, mild vinegar, or denture tablets to the water for additional sanitization. Avoid using bleach or alcohol-based mouthwash! They can damage the plastic and your mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Properly Store Your Retainer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It might seem like a no-brainer to keep your retainer in a safe place, but misplacing it is a problem that happens quite often with patients. Whenever you\u2019re not using your retainer, store it in its case or a bag. Make sure you keep it out of reach of dogs or children \u2013 they may damage or lose the retainer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brush Your Teeth Before and After Wearing Your Retainer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before and after putting on your retainer, brush your teeth. Otherwise, placing your retainer on dirty teeth will only cause it to get dirty much more quickly. An unclean mouth can lead to several oral health problems and complications, so keep it clean!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re not sure how to take care of your retainer, go over the tips outlined above. Keeping your retainer clean will help you enjoy a healthy, beautiful smile for life!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Practice<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At D&G Dental, we offer advanced, comfortable, and compassionate dental care for patients of all ages. From standard checkups to complex restorative procedures, we\u2019ve got everything your family needs at one convenient location. Our team will do everything we can to help you achieve and maintain your absolute best smile. For more tips on caring for your retainer, visit our website<\/a> or call (973) 731-2200<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At your last Invisalign appointment, you can\u2019t help but look forward to life without dental devices. However, your orthodontic care doesn\u2019t end when the clear aligners are removed. To preserve your hard-earned results, you must wear a retainer for the rest of your life. If you neglect to do so, your teeth could move back […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n6 Tips for Caring for Your Retainer | D&G Dental of West Orange<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Once you finish your orthodontic treatment, you must wear a retainer to preserve your results. Here\u2019s how to take proper care of it.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dgdental.com\/blog\/6-tips-for-caring-for-your-retainer\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"6 Tips for Caring for Your Retainer | D&G Dental of West Orange\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Once you finish your orthodontic treatment, you must wear a retainer to preserve your results. 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