How To Avoid a Broken Retainer
In this post, we’ll look at how to avoid a broken retainer. It’s worth taking care of your retainers for many reasons.
First, when you think of a retainer, think that it retains your perfect smile. So, if you break it, you’ll need to replace it right away, or your teeth could move out of alignment. Plus, replacing the device is expensive and you will need to come in to have new impressions made of your teeth.
More importantly, you don’t want to lose the progress you’ve made wearing braces or aligners. Although it might not be much to look at, your retainer helps you keep your beautiful smile for a lifetime. Pretty remarkable, right?
Fortunately, there are some easy ways to avoid a broken retainer.
How to Avoid a Broken Retainer with the Right Habits
Even for the best of us, it’s easy to lose track of a removable retainer if you start with bad habits. Unfortunately, these habits are easy to fall into and will result in losing or breaking the device.
For example, you might take out your retainer and put it in a napkin beside you when you are eating. Too quickly, you can see how you might forget that it’s there and walk away without it. And, you might throw it away by accident.
The Right Habits
Instead, keep your retainer in its case and always put the case where you know you’ll remember it every time. Also, write your phone number and your name on the case – just in case.
Choose one place, like a purse, or a backpack, wherever you are sure to take it with you when you leave. It might be a good idea to invest in a small waist bag/ fanny pack for the sole purpose of holding your retainer.
After you decide on the best place for you, do the same thing every time. Then, you’ll never lose or end up breaking your retainer.
Of course, the easiest way not to lose your retainer is to keep it in your mouth, except when you are eating, brushing your teeth. So, if you don’t have a safe place to put your retainer, you might be better off eating with it in your mouth. Just avoid hard and sticky foods, and never chew gum.
Lastly, you’ll need to store your retainer in its case if you play sports or spend time on the water, swimming, boating, or skiing. In this case, you may need to get a family member to keep your case for you or put it in a locker.
The Wrong Habits
Some might choose to put their retainers in their pocket, but this could be a bad idea. You might forget it’s there, and the retainer ends up melting in the clothes dryer.
Another common choice is leaving your retainer in the car. Unfortunately, the heat inside the vehicle can distort your retainer, just like washing it in hot water.
Another tip: Watch out for cats and dogs. If you leave your case where they can get to it, your pets might think you left them a new chew toy!
Your Smile is Worth It
A retainer plays a big role in helping you keep your perfect smile. So, it’s worth getting in the right habits to protect it. Your smile is worth it.
For more information about taking care of your retainer, see our instructions for removable retainers. There, we provide instructions for clear retainers as well as Vivera retainers. Plus, there’s a helpful video for tips on cleaning bonded retainers.
For more questions, send us a message on our contact page. Or call us anytime at 508-872-0555.
Smiles in Framingham is the office of Dr. Deborah Himelhoch. We provide quality pediatric dentistry and orthodontics for infants, children, adolescents, and adults throughout Framingham, Southborough, Ashland, Wayland, Natick, Marlborough, Hopkinton, Holliston, and surrounding towns.
