A woman holding a retainer.

Everyone loves a good smile, & for those who are fresh out of their braces journey, retainers are the best way to preserve their gleaming new arrangement.

Choose Your Own Adventure: Retainers Edition

There are two types of retainers: permanent wire retainers that are bonded with your teeth through a glue-like material & removable plastic retainers that can be taken in & out of your mouth at will. For removable retainers, there are two types– ones with wires (Hawley) & clear ones without wires (Essix, Vivera, Zendura). Pros & cons exist for each type, but regardless of the differences, they all serve the same purpose: to keep your teeth rightfully aligned!

How Retainers Work

Braces & retainers are effective because our bones (teeth included) have cells that work to remodel themselves at steady rates. Cells known as osteoclasts chip away at old bone & other cells known as osteoblasts come in to build & reinforce new bone. This process occurs quickly for children but slows down as you get older. As adults, our teeth have a 10% remodeling rate per year. 

Braces help to align our teeth placement, but once they get removed, we need another force to hold them in place so that the bone-strengthening process can have time to solidify their positioning. Because teeth naturally shift from our daily motions of biting & chewing food, they can easily revert back to their original positions without the help of retainers.

It is notable that retainers do not realign teeth. They may help with the slightest of readjustments, but their primary function is to simply hold your teeth in place. They do not apply enough consistent pressure to make major shifts to your teeth, so make sure that you follow your dentist’s instructions on the frequency & duration you should be wearing your retainers to prevent major shifting from occurring. 

How to Take Care of Retainers

When it comes to permanent retainers, flossing & brushing of the back of your teeth is essential in avoiding plaque buildup. Because the attached wire prevents you from flossing normally, tools such as a floss threader come in handy for helping you get under the wire to properly floss your teeth. Regular dental cleanings are also important in maintaining the pristine condition of your retainer & catching any bits of plaque that you may have missed in your daily cleanings.

As for removable retainers, bacteria can grow on your retainer the same way that it can grow inside your mouth, so those retainers must also be cleaned on a regular basis. At the minimum, lightly brush your retainers with a soft-bristled toothbrush & lukewarm water. For a more thorough cleaning, use mild antibacterial soap or a paste of water & baking soda. Do not wash with hot water or toothpaste because those methods can respectively lead to warping or scratching of the plastic. In addition to those cleaning tips, be mindful to always store your retainers in its proper case (which should also be cleaned regularly).

 

Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/retainer-types#TOC_TITLE_HDR_1

https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/adult-orthodontics/how-does-a-retainer-work 

https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/adult-orthodontics/can-retainers-realign-your-teeth 

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/10899-teeth-retainer

https://eversmilewhite.com/blogs/eversmile-blog/how-to-clean-teeth-with-a-permanent-retainer 

https://shawnessydental.com/how-to-floss-with-a-permanent-retainer/ 

https://www.thebraceplacetulsa.com/dos-and-donts-of-cleaning-your-retainer/

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