Retainer Wear and Care

"Invisible" retainer

Upper retainer

Your upper retainer is a removable appliance designed to maintain your teeth in their corrected position. Please follow these Wear and Care instructions carefully.

Wear

• The upper retainer should be worn at all times (during meals and sleeping too) unless your doctor gives you other instructions. Remove it only when brushing your teeth.
• The retainer’s plastic taste will disappear quickly, and your speech will return to normal after a few days of wearing the retainer.
• Soreness will leave in a few days, even after an adjustment. If you have a localized sore spot after three or four days, call us for an appointment.
• Don’t flip the retainer with your tongue. This could damage your teeth.

Care

• Clean the retainer by brushing it with soap and water and occasionally clean it with denture cleaner, using warm (not hot) water.
• When it’s not in your mouth, keep the retainer in a special box given to you (not wrapped in a napkin or in your pocket).
• Keep the retainer away from pets.
• Bring the retainer to each appointment.

Lower retainer

Fixed retainer

Your lower retainer is a fixed or removable appliance designed to maintain your teeth in their corrected position. If your retainer is removable, follow the same instructions as outlined for the upper retainer. If fixed, a wire is attached to the inside of your lower front teeth. It requires special attention.

Wear

• A fixed retainer will remain in your mouth permanently or until your doctor approves its removal.

Care

• When brushing be extra careful to clean the wire and the inside of your lower teeth. Floss daily and use a floss threader between the retainer wire and the gums.