4 Top Tips for Wearing & Caring for Your Permanent Retainer
The first braces were recorded in 1819. Over the next two centuries, these dental appliances underwent significant changes, including,
The first braces were recorded in 1819. Over the next two centuries, these dental appliances underwent significant changes, including, 100 years later, post-braces retainers to keep newly straightened teeth in place.
One of the latest innovations is the permanent retainer, also called a bonded retainer. This handy gadget resulted from the many problems with losing removable retainers. However, even though the permanent kind is bonded to the back of the teeth, it still requires special treatment.
In this guide, we’ll share the 4 top tips for safely and effectively wearing and caring for your new bonded retainer.
1. Recognize the Possible Downsides
Having a bonded retainer instead of a removable version has many benefits. You don’t have to keep up with it when you take it out to eat. You won’t accidentally throw it in the trash can when you clean up your meal. And you can’t damage it by cleaning it the wrong way.
Still, a bonded retainer can be damaged, as JS Dental Lab explains here. The device wires are placed behind the front upper or lower teeth. Any mouth injury can cause these wires to detach or break. Eating hard or sticky foods or long-term wear-and-tear can also damage the wires.
Understanding the potential accidents waiting to happen with your permanent retainer is the first step in avoiding them!
2. Watch What You Eat
Remember how you had a special diet with your braces? You couldn’t eat sticky, chewy, or hard foods, and chewing gum was a no-no. Well, those rules still apply now that wires are bonded to the back of your teeth.
These foods can dislodge the wires and damage the device, or food particles can get stuck in them, leading to plaque buildup and tooth decay. Since you can’t take the retainer out before eating as you would with a removable device, you must be cautious about your meals.
The plus side is that eliminating those dangerous foods from your diet is good for your teeth, reducing wear and tear and cavities, so your newly straightened smile can also be healthy.
Be cautious not to pull on the wire when flossing or bite your food directly at the retainer location (think: that first strong bite into an apple). Excessive force may loosen or snap the retainer. If you have bruxism (teeth grinding), the pressure from clenching and grinding can break the wires. Wearing your night guard regularly protects your teeth and the retainer from grinding damage.
3. You Still Need to Clean Your Retainer
Removable retainers build up bacteria and other microorganisms. Keeping them clean is vital to staying healthy and avoiding smelly, unhygienic dental appliances. But why would you need to clean a bonded retainer attached to your teeth? And how can you clean something you can’t see?
Although a dirty permanent retainer doesn’t have the same consequences as a removable one, it can still cause problems. Without regular oral hygiene care when you brush and floss, food particles, debris, and plaque build up around the retainer. Over time, this causes tooth decay and gum disease.
Brushing and flossing are necessary to ensure your bonded device — and the hidden areas of teeth behind them — stay healthy. When you brush your teeth with a soft-bristled brush, take extra care to scrub the retainer gently. Flossing these spots can be challenging, but special floss threaders designed for braces make it easier to complete this step.
4. Monitor Your Retainer For Changes
Catching problems with the wires early can prevent serious issues. If a wire comes loose, the orthodontist may be able to tighten it and fix it easily. But if it comes off or breaks, you’ll need more extensive repairs.
The first couple of weeks after your bonded retainer is applied is an adjustment period. Your doctor will work with you to ensure the device is comfortable, although it will still feel “weird” until your body is used to it.
After all the kinks are worked out, you’ll begin recognizing the “new normal” in your mouth. Your retainer should now feel like part of your body, similar to how your braces felt after you got used to them.
Going forward, pay attention to the fit and watch for signs that the retainer may be coming loose or your teeth are shifting. Let your orthodontist know as soon as you are aware of any problems.
Conclusion
Choosing a permanent retainer over a removable one can save you substantial stress and work, but it isn’t a carefree option. To keep your teeth healthy and your bonded device functioning correctly, follow these four tips and enjoy your newly straightened smile!
