How to Take Proper Care of Orthodontic Retainers?
When braces are finally removed, the “retention” phase begins for most individuals. The objective of this phase is to ensure the teeth do not regress back to their previous position. A retainer will be used to maintain the improved position of the teeth. A retainer is a fixed or removable dental appliance which has been custom-made by the orthodontist to fit the teeth. Retainers are generally made from transparent plastic and thin wires to optimize the comfort of the patient.
Retainers are worn for varying amounts of time, depending on the type of orthodontic treatment and the age of the patient. Perseverance and commitment are required to make this final stage of treatment successful. If the retainer is not worn as directed by the orthodontist, treatment can fail or take much longer than anticipated.
What Types of Retainer Are Available?
There are a variety of retainers available; each one geared towards treating a different kind of dental problem. The orthodontist will make a retainer recommendation depending on the nature of the original diagnosis and the orthodontic treatment plan.
The following are some of the most common types of retainers:
- Hawley retainer – The Hawley retainer consists of a metal wire on an acrylic arch. The metal wire may be periodically adjusted by the orthodontist to ensure the teeth stay in the desired position. The acrylic arch is designed to fit comfortably on the lingual walls or palate of the mouth.
- Essix – The Essix retainer is the most commonly used vacuum formed retainer (VFR). A mold is initially made of the teeth in their new alignment, and then clear PVC trays are created to fit over the arch in its entirety. VFR’s are much cheaper than many other types of retainers and also do not affect the aesthetic appearance of the smile in the same way as the Hawley retainer. The disadvantage of VFR’s is that they break and scratch more easily than other types of retainers.
- Fixed retainers – A fixed retainer is somewhat similar to a lingual brace in that it is affixed to the tongue side of a few teeth. Usually, a fixed retainer is used in cases where there has been either rapid or substantial movement of the teeth. It usually consists of a single wire. The inclination of the teeth to move rapidly means they are also more likely to regress back to their previous position if a fixed retainer is not placed.
What Do I Need to Consider When Using a Retainer?
There are a few basic things to consider for proper use and maintenance of your retainer.
- Don’t lose the appliance – Removable retainers are very easy to lose. It is advisable to place your retainer in the case it came in while eating, drinking and brushing. Leaving a retainer folded in a napkin at a restaurant or in a public restroom can be very costly if lost because a replacement must be created. A brightly colored case serves as a great reminder.
- Don’t drink while wearing a retainer – It is tempting to drink while wearing a retainer because of the unobtrusive nature of the device. However, excess liquid trapped under the trays can vastly intensify acid exposure to teeth, increasing the probability of tooth decay.
- Don’t eat while wearing a retainer – It can be difficult and awkward to eat while wearing a removable retainer and it can also damage the device. Food can get trapped around a Hawley retainer wire or underneath the palate, causing bad breath. When worn on the upper and lower arches simultaneously, VFR retainers do not allow the teeth to meet. This means that chewing is almost impossible.
- Clean the retainer properly – Removable retainers can become breeding grounds for calculus and bacteria. It is essential to clean the inside and outside thoroughly as often as possible. Hawley retainers can be cleaned with a toothbrush. Because harsh bristles can damage the PVC surface of a VFR, denture cleaner or a specialized retainer cleaner is recommended for this type of device.
- Wear the retainer as directed – This phase of treatment is critical. The hard work has been done, the braces are off and now it is tempting not to wear the retainer as often as the orthodontist recommends. Retainers are needed to give the muscles, tissues and bones time to stabilize the teeth in their new alignment. Failure to wear the retainer as directed can have regrettable consequences, such as teeth returning to their original position, added expense and lost time.
If you have any questions or concerns about retainers, please contact our Waterloo, dentist.
Why Retainer Care Matters
Retainers are what keep teeth in their new positions after orthodontic treatment ends. Without consistent retainer wear, teeth gradually drift back toward their original positions because of natural patterns in jaw growth, ligament memory, and chewing forces. The investment of one to three years of active orthodontic treatment can be undone in a year or two of inconsistent retention. This makes retainer care one of the most important pieces of orthodontic aftercare.
Retainers come in two main forms. Removable retainers are clear plastic trays (similar to aligners) or wire retainers with an acrylic plate that sits on the roof of the mouth. They are taken out for eating, drinking anything other than water, and brushing. Fixed retainers are thin wires bonded behind the front teeth — they stay in place permanently and require no daily user action, but they need careful flossing to keep clean and periodic check-ups to confirm they are still bonded properly.
Many patients use both — a fixed retainer behind the lower front teeth (the area most prone to drift) combined with a removable upper retainer worn nightly. The combination provides reliable retention with minimal daily effort. Your dentist or orthodontist recommends the right combination for your case at the end of active treatment.
Daily Care for Retainers
Whether you have removable or fixed retainers, certain care habits keep them working and protect your teeth:
- Remove removable retainers when eating, drinking anything but water, and brushing your teeth
- Brush removable retainers each time you take them out — soft toothbrush and dish soap or denture cleaner work well (avoid coloured toothpaste, which can dull and scratch the plastic)
- Soak removable retainers weekly in a denture cleaner or diluted hydrogen peroxide to manage buildup
- Never use hot water on plastic retainers — heat warps the material and ruins the fit
- Store removable retainers in their ventilated case when not being worn — never wrap them in a tissue (they get thrown out)
- Floss carefully around fixed retainers — a floss threader or super floss helps slide the floss under the wire
- Brush carefully along the gum line where fixed retainer wire meets the tooth
- Avoid biting hard foods (ice, hard candies, popcorn kernels) on the lower front teeth where fixed retainers are bonded
- Bring retainers to every dental cleaning visit so we can check fit and condition
- Tell us right away if a fixed retainer feels loose, if a removable retainer becomes uncomfortable, or if you lose one
Inconsistent retainer wear is the most common reason orthodontic results break down over time. Once teeth start to drift back, retreatment is sometimes needed — much more time and cost than simply maintaining retention from the start.
When and How Long to Wear Retainers
Most orthodontists recommend a specific schedule for retainer wear after active treatment ends. The first three to six months involve full-time wear (24 hours a day, removing only for eating and brushing) so the new tooth positions can fully stabilize as the bone around them remodels. After that, the schedule transitions to nighttime-only wear (eight to ten hours overnight). Some patients eventually move to wearing retainers every other night or a few nights a week, depending on how stable their teeth have been.
Long-term, nightly wear is usually recommended for life. Teeth always have some tendency to drift, and a small amount of regular pressure from a retainer prevents that drift indefinitely. The commitment is small — putting in the retainer before bed becomes a habit like brushing teeth. Patients who keep this habit consistently keep their orthodontic results for decades. Patients who stop wearing retainers often see drift, sometimes significant enough to need retreatment.
Replace retainers when they wear out. Most retainers last two to five years before they crack, become uncomfortable, or stop holding the teeth securely. Fixed retainers can stay bonded for many years but occasionally come loose or break and need rebonding or replacement. Bring retainers to every cleaning visit so we can check them and recommend replacement when needed.
What This Means for Your Care at Trillium
Trillium provides retainer evaluation at every cleaning visit at no additional cost. Replacement retainers are billed separately at the current Ontario Dental Association Suggested Fee Guide rate. Most private dental insurance plans cover the initial retainer set as part of orthodontic treatment; replacement retainers may or may not be covered depending on the plan and how long it has been since the original treatment.
If you have lost a retainer or notice it has stopped fitting properly, call us right away. Teeth start drifting within days to weeks of stopping retainer wear, and the longer you wait, the harder it is to get the retainer to fit again. We will schedule a quick appointment to take a new impression and arrange a replacement. CDCP coverage for retainer replacement is limited and depends on the specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clean my retainer?
Brush it each morning with a soft toothbrush and dish soap (not toothpaste). Soak weekly in denture cleaner or diluted hydrogen peroxide. Let it air-dry before storing it in its ventilated case. Avoid hot water and harsh cleaners.
My retainer feels different. Is it still fitting?
Sometimes retainers feel tight after a few hours of not wearing them, or feel loose if teeth have shifted slightly. If you can fully seat it without significant discomfort, keep wearing it and bring it to the next visit so we can check. If it does not fit at all, call us — teeth are drifting and need attention.
Can I drink water with my retainer in?
Plain water yes. Anything else (coffee, tea, juice, alcohol, sports drinks) should be consumed with the retainer out. Coloured or sugary drinks stain the plastic and bathe your teeth in sugars and acids that cannot be washed away.
How long do retainers last?
Most last two to five years before they need replacement. Wear and tear, accidental damage, weight loss or gain, and tooth changes over time all contribute to a retainer eventually not fitting as well as it once did. Bring yours to every cleaning visit so we can check.
My fixed retainer wire broke. What do I do?
Call us right away. The broken end may irritate the tongue or cheek, and the affected teeth lose their retention. We can replace or repair the fixed retainer at a quick visit. In the meantime, wear your removable retainer if you have one to slow any drift.
Do children grow out of needing retainers?
No. Teeth always have some tendency to drift back toward their original positions. Children who complete orthodontic treatment need nightly retainers indefinitely, just like adults. Outgrowing retainers is one of the most common misconceptions about orthodontic care.