Why Should I Wear My Retainer?

Your Mississauga dentist explains why wearing a retainer is so important for your smile.

What is a retainer?

A retainer is an orthodontic appliance made from plastic or wires, custom-made to fit over your teeth to keep your newly straightened smile in place. There are many different styles of retainers; however, many of them are removable.

Why do I need to wear a retainer?

It seems fair to wonder why you need to wear yet another oral appliance on your teeth after you finally got your braces off; however, wearing a retainer after braces is the best way to guarantee that your straighter smile stays that way.

What happens if I don’t wear a retainer?

If your braces are removed and you decide against wearing a retainer, then essentially you will lose those beautiful new results you worked so hard to get. Because your teeth weren’t naturally straight to begin with, we needed to use braces to get the results you wanted. However, because this wasn’t their natural position, it’s very easy for them to return to their original place if there is nothing to hold your straighter smile in check. That’s why wearing your retainer is critical to maintaining your results.

How long will I need to wear a retainer?

The stage after getting your braces off is known as the retention stage. This means that in order to retain that beautiful new smile, you will need to wear a retainer. Once you are fitted with you retainer, your Mississauga dentist will most likely tell you that you need to wear it every day for several months. The average amount of time that someone wears a retainer full-time is six months; however, this may be longer or shorter depending on the case. After a few months, you will only need to wear your retainer at night. After a few years, you may only need to wear your retainer every few nights.

How should I care for my retainer?

It’s important to know that while your retainer is removable, you should refrain from removing it a lot. However, a retainer should be removed before eating, brushing or playing sports. You can use your toothbrush and toothpaste to clean your retainer. Whenever you aren’t wearing your retainer it’s important to place it back in its box so it won’t get broken or damaged.

If you have any questions about wearing your retainer or if you need to schedule an appointment, don’t hesitate to call your Mississauga orthodontist at Mississauga Dental Arts.


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Mississauga Dental Arts

(905) 286-1569

Mississauga, ON Dentist
Mississauga Dental Arts
350 Burnhamthorpe Road East #2
Mississauga, ON L5A 3S5
(905) 286-1569