Protecting your Smile with Orthodontic Retainers

How Long You’ll Need to Wear Retainers

In short, you should wear your retainers as long as you want to keep your smile straight.

During the first two weeks after treatment, patients are advised to:

• Wear their retainers full time, day and night except while eating or brushing.

• Remove them only to eat, brush, participate in sports or musical activities, or attend special events

After your first two weeks, you’ll typically be able to switch to wearing them only at night while sleeping—unless otherwise instructed by your orthodontist. In order to maintain your bite and alignment, we recommend wearing retainers night time for a lifetime.  

To ensure long-term success:

• We recommend patients see us for the first 9 months after treatment is completed for routine retention checks. We recommend you continue to wear your retainers night time for a lifetime.  

• We will advise you on adjustments during these retention checks.

• Remember to contact our office as soon as possible for a replacement retainer, if your retainer(s) are broken or lost to prevent shifting of teeth.  

How to Care for Your Removable Retainers

Maintaining your retainers properly helps ensure their effectiveness and comfort.

To protect your retainers:

• Keep them out of extreme heat, as temperatures above 115°F can warp the material—so avoid hot water, dishwashers, or leaving them on a car dashboard

• Always store them in a protective case when not in use to prevent loss or damage

• Keep them away from pets, especially dogs, who love to chew on them

To clean your retainers:

• Clean them gently using a toothbrush and mild soap—avoid toothpaste, as it’s too abrasive

• For a deeper clean, occasional soaking in a denture-cleaning solution like Efferdent can help

Other important reminders:

• Retainers do wear down over time, so if yours becomes loose, breaks, or no longer fits properly, give us a call

• Your treatment includes one set, but replacements carry a fee if they are lost or damaged

Understanding Fixed (Bonded) Retainers

In some cases, especially where there was excessive spacing before treatment, Dr. Shlash recommends a fixed retainer for the upper and/or lower front teeth.

• A thin wire is bonded behind the teeth to add extra support to those particular teeth, however, patients must also wear a removable retainer over the fixed retainer to maintain the position of the remaining teeth.   Fixed retainers require a careful long-term diet (avoiding crunchy, hard foods) and require extra care while flossing and maintaining excellent oral hygiene to ensure plaque trapped under the wire is cleaned nightly.  

   

When Extra Retention Is Needed

Some patients may require a more personalized retention plan based on their habits or oral conditions.

You may need extra retention support if you:

• Grind or clench your teeth

• Have tongue thrusting or poor tongue posture

• Had rotated or gapped teeth before treatment

Additional habits that can affect your results:

• Lip sucking

• Chewing on pens

During your visits:

• We’ll evaluate these factors

• We’ll tailor a plan to keep your smile as stable as it is stunning

Keeping Up with Your Smile Long-Term

Wearing retainers is just one part of maintaining your orthodontic results.

Other important habits:

• Daily brushing and flossing

• Visiting your general dentist every six months

• Keeping an eye out for any shifting or wear on your retainers

At Shlash Orthodontics, we’re here to support you long after treatment ends.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a retainer checkup, don’t hesitate to reach out—because your confident smile is always worth protecting.