Health

What Are Retainers, And Why Do We Need To Wear Them?

May 9, 20220
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Retainers are custom-made plastic or metal pieces for each individual, and you will not find any two retainers alike. A child may require a wire retainer or clear retainer for various reasons. They use retainers frequently after braces removing braces to allow the bone that supports the teeth to heal after the shifting process of teeth. Retainers also aid in the maintenance of teeth’s new placements after the compilation of active orthodontic treatment.

They’re custom-made to fit your mouth’s structure and straighten your teeth. Retainers are helpful for more than just teeth shifting. Tongue push is a problem that affects some children (a condition where the tongue slides through the teeth when you talk). Experts specifically design some retainers to prevent your language from moving forward when you speak.

There are generally two types of retainers:

Removable Retainer

Your child can put the retainer in and take them out daily. They can be clear retainers or wire retainers. You can remove them easily when you need to brush your teeth, floss, or eat. They are convenient to get and are relatively straightforward. Relapse is probably the biggest issue in removable retainers. Because they are removable, you can quickly lose them or may not wear them as often as you should. It is less expensive than a bonded retainer.

Fixed

Fixed or permanent retainer consist of a thin, custom-fitted wire connected to your child’s upper or lower teeth on the tongue side. It’s not difficult to follow the directions for when and how long to wear it. Permanent retainers are not visible from the outside, and it’s not likely to affect your speech. They are durable and will not break or damage easily. A permanent retainer cost is a bit higher than removable ones.

How do you clean and care for teeth retainers?

If you have a retainer, you might wonder how clean and take care of it. Your teeth retainer may sit against your teeth and inside your mouth. Retainers quickly accumulate bacteria tarter and plaque. It is essential to keep your retainers clean, just like keeping your teeth clean. Below are some tips that show how to clean retainers.

To clean your clear plastic retainer or Hathaway retainers, follow these tips-

  • After each meal, carefully rinse your teeth retainer with lukewarm water. Brushing and flossing your teeth is also a good idea at this time.
  • Clean your retainer as soon as you take it out of your mouth while it’s still wet. It will make cleaning up any trash easier before it hardens.
  • Mix lukewarm water with a mild cleanser or mild dish soap for a deeper clean. Scrub plaque, germs, and other debris away with a gentle toothbrush or denture brush.
  • If you need, dig into the deepest grooves and ridges on clear plastic retainers using a cotton swab.

Conclusion

We hope the above-given information helps you understand more about retainers. The above article discusses what retainers are and why we need them, the types of retainers, and more. For more valuable information regarding teeth retainers, don’t hesitate to contact ivanovortho.com.