Retainer Instructions

Wear your retainer at all times, until the doctor instructs otherwise.
Take your retainer out when eating, and always keep it in its case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunchrooms or restaurants.) Also, pets enjoy chewing them.
Clean the retainer thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush. Do NOT use toothpaste, this causes scratching and discoloration. Use warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque, and eliminates odors. Denture cleaner or other orthodontic appliance cleaners can be used but do not take the place of brushing. Hand soap or dish soap can be used to supplement cleaning.
Initially, it may be difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading, or singing out loud to get used to it.
Retainers are breakable, so treat yours with care. If your retainer gets lost or broken, call us immediately.
If you have any questions or concerns about your retainer, or you believe it needs to be adjusted, call us. Do not try to adjust by yourself.
Always bring your retainer to your appointments.
Retainer replacements are expensive. With proper care, they should last for years!
Remove your retainer when you go swimming.
Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine, and out of napkins.