Retainers

Retainer Guidelines from Your Manassas, VA Orthodontist

Retainers are often an important part of orthodontic treatment, but life with a retainer can take some getting used to. Follow these tips to make things easier:

• At first, some patients encounter difficulty speaking while wearing a retainer. Practice speaking out loud or singing to overcome this issue.
• Always wear your retainer as instructed by Dr. Hussaini, only removing it for eating, oral care, and swimming.
• Cleaning your retainer once each day is crucial to remove plaque and prevent odor. Use warm, not hot, water and brush your retainer with toothpaste. You may also use a product like Efferdent, but you still need to brush your appliance.
• Treat your retainer with care. It is breakable and expensive to replace.
• Call Smileworks Orthodontics immediately if you lose or break your retainer.
• Always place your retainer in its case when not in use. This prevents damage to your retainer and reduces the chances of accidentally throwing it away.
• Most retainers are inadvertently discarded at restaurants and school cafeterias. Never place your retainer in a napkin. Instead, carry your case with you and store your retainer there.
• Do not keep your retainer in your pocket. This can lead to an unintended trip through the washing machine.
• Keep your retainer away from heat including hot water and the interiors of hot cars.
• Never attempt to adjust your retainer on your own.
• Contact Smileworks Orthodontics at (703) 383-0090 for any questions or concerns regarding your retainer.