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Much like your nails and hair that constantly grow, your teeth move throughout your life but at a much slower pace. If they are left without proper retention, they will go back to their original position. Your retainers will help to maintain your teeth in their new position.

If you ever happen to get tired of your beautiful smile, the solution is easy… stop wearing your retainers!

General Care Instructions

  • Wear your retainer as instructed at your appointment.
  • For the first few days, speaking may be different with the retainers in.
  • To learn how to speak with them, talk more or read aloud.
  • Take out your removable retainer when you eat.
  • Keep your retainer in its case whenever it is not in your mouth.
  • School lunchrooms or restaurants are the most common places to lose a retainer.
  • Keep it out of reach of your pets. They love to chew on them!
  • Retainers can break. Be careful with them if they are not in your mouth.
  • Remove your retainer when you go swimming.
  • Like your shoes, retainers wear out and need to be replaced once you see any signs of damage.
  • The better you take care of your retainer, the longer it will last.
  • If you grind or clench your teeth at night or during the day, your retainer’s life will be shorter.
  • Feeling pressure on a few teeth means your teeth have moved a little since the last time you had your retainer on. Make sure to wear it full time for a few days to correct it.
  • If you misplace, break or lose your retainer, call us immediately.
  • If you have two sets of retainers, wear each for a week or two and switch to the other set.
  • By alternating between the two sets of retainers you will prolong their life span.
  • Leaving one set aside for a rainy day is not a good solution. Your “backup set” may not fit if not worn for a long period of time.

Filing Invisalign Tray

If you need to smooth any edges of your retainer tray because it is not comfortable, you can do so with a nail file exactly like the video shows.

Cleaning Instructions

  • Clean your removable retainer outside of your mouth.
  • Never put it in a dishwasher or use bleaching agents on it.
  • Do not use toothpaste to clean it. Micro scratches caused by toothpaste will discolor your retainer.
  • Use a soft brush and liquid soap.
  • Rinse it thoroughly with warm but not hot water.
  • Brush it at least once a day. It will remove the plaque and eliminate odors.
  • To remove the stains and keep them clear, once in a while, soak your retainers in Hydrogen Peroxide for a few hours. You can buy Hydrogen Peroxide from any pharmacy.