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Brace Free Forever

You have just spent several months or years and invested a great deal of money to have your bite corrected and your teeth straightened. The day for you get your braces removed has finally arrived— Congratulations! You’re brace free! Although treatment is complete, you’re not completely finished. The most important detail that Dr.Boggan and the bracing team at Orthodontics South can’t stress enough is that you must wear your retainers if you want your teeth to stay in the same place.

Your original smile is what nature intended and if you don’t wear your retainers nature will exert its forces and gradually move your teeth, sometimes back to where they started. Don’t let this happen to you after everything you went through to get that great smile. It takes at least six months or more for your teeth to remember their new positions. If you don’t wear your retainers, your teeth can possibly shift overnight to where your retainer will no longer fit! Everyone's teeth are different and that is why Dr. Boggan recommends wearing your retainer every night or as long as you want to keep straight teeth.

This should be taken seriously so needless to say: Never stop wearing your retainers if you want to keep your flawless, straight smile.

Always keep an eye on looks, feel, and fit:

·         Your smile should look the same as it did the day your braces 

       were removed.

·         Pay attention to how the retainer feels. Retainers are meant to

      be a little snug, but if they are tight or uncomfortable on your 

      teeth, you are not wearing them enough and you’re teeth are 

      more than likely shifting. Try wearing your retainer all the time 

      for 2-3 days until your retainers fit comfortably again, then go

      back to nightly wear.

·         Retainers are custom made to fit your teeth. There should not 

       be any space between your retainers and your teeth.

Caring for Your Retainers

Retainers are made of plastic and are not fragile, but they will not withstand rough handling or carelessness like cramming them in your pocket, sitting on them or stepping on them, so treat them with care. Keep them in their case when you are not wearing them. Store the retainer case somewhere you will remember and where others, including your pets, cannot reach. Retainers are not toys so resist the urge to click them in and out with your tongue.

One of the most common mistakes people make with retainers is forgetting they wrapped them in a napkin during a meal and accidentally throw them away. Another common mistake is leaving your retainers in a hot car, on a hot day. The heat will cause your retainers to change from it's original form. One way to avoid these types of situations is to always carry your case with you, if possible and any time you take your retainers out, place them in the case.

It’s very important that you keep your retainers clean. Not letting your saliva dry and harden on your retainers is very important. Immediately upon removal, rinse the retainers with water and store them safely. At least once a day, after you brush your teeth, brush the retainers with cold water or hand soap. Do not use hot water or anything too abrasive, including whitening toothpastes. The retainers will last longer if you don’t expose them to harsh chemicals or extreme temperatures in attempts to clean them.

Remember to take your retainers with you to all of your dental appointments, and check to make sure the retainers fit afterwards. Don’t forget to bring your retainers and case to your retainer check-up. Please call us at (205) 664-4140 or contact us immediately if you:

·         Broke your retainer.

·         Lost your retainer.

·         Are planning to undergo any major dental work like 

      veneer, implant, crown, bridge, or extraction.

·         Just want to make sure everything is okay.