Would you like to maintain your healthy and attractive smile after orthodontic treatment? If so, then you need to clean and care for your orthodontic retainer. This is because your retainer keeps your teeth in their proper positions, and if you don’t care for it, it won’t care for you. So, our orthodontists, Dr. Terry Sellke and Dr. Donald Reily, recommend doing the following things to keep your retainer in tip-top shape:
-Rinse your retainer regularly: It’s important to rinse your retainer with water as soon as you remove it from your smile. This is recommended because it helps you avoid plaque and bacteria buildup on the appliance, which can help you avoid dental issues and maintain a top-notch smile.
-Deeply clean your retainer often: It’s best to deeply clean your retainer by brushing it with a soft-bristled toothbrush and mild dish soap. You can also use a denture brush or denture cleaner. Whatever you do, don’t use products with abrasives. Abrasives can scratch and damage the retainer.
-Keep your retainer in a safe place: A hot environment can warp and melt your appliance, so it’s best to keep it in a cooler room. It’s also important to keep the appliance away from a space where your dog can find it. For some reason, dogs love to chew retainers. As long as you keep the retainer in a safe place, you’ll be fine.
Call the orthodontic practice of Drs. Sellke & Reily today at 847-223-2876 if you have any questions or if you would like to know more. Our orthodontic team will be thrilled to tell you all about how to clean a retainer in Grayslake, Antioch and Gurnee, Illinois, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We look forward to hearing from and helping you!
