Retainer Instructions
- Please understand that retainers need to be worn indefinitely to maintain your smile
- Bring your retainers with you to every appointment
- Wear your retainer the amount of time Dr. Cohen prescribes for you (10 hours/night)
- Clean the retainer thoroughly twice a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque, and eliminates odors. In addition to brushing your retainers, we recommend you soak your retainers daily in a denture cleaner, such as Efferdent and alternate with Crest 3D White Mouthwash (Diamond Strong). You can leave the retainer soaking all day long. NEVER clean your retainers with hot or boiling water - it will damage them. Do not use any colored mouthwash to make them smell nice - it will turn them that color!!
- When your retainer is not in your mouth, it should ALWAYS be in its case. Pets love to chew on them!
- Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine, and napkins
- If you have any questions or concerns about your retainer, or you believe it needs adjusting, call us. Do not try to adjust it yourself
- Be very careful not to lose or break your retainers - there are additional charges to replace them. Treat them with care as you would a piece of jewelry
- If your retainer gets lost or broken, call us immediately
Fixed Retainers
If you have a fixed retainer, it is cemented in your mouth and Dr. Cohen has placed it there for extra protection against tooth movement. You may not notice that the cement or retainer is loose, so if you start to see any shifting of your teeth, something is probably broken so call us immediately. You must brush and floss these retainers just as you would your teeth. Plaque and tartar will build up quickly so be sure to clean this area well.