Dr. Tanvee Singh, Smile Care, Bandra 2

Retainer wear is one of the most important parts of your orthodontic treatment. Initially, retainers should be worn ALL OF THE TIME (removable) except when brushing, eating, playing certain musical instruments, or participating in physical activities.

Please follow these instructions for removable retainers :

1. Retainers need to be cleaned just like your teeth.
   1. Use your toothbrush and toothpaste to scrub them, or a fingernail brush with soap and water.
   2. If they develop a bad taste, you may soak them in mouth wash, but only for a short period of time. Some mouth washes can cause the plastic material in the retainer to deteriorate.
   3. Use an "over the counter" denture cleaner to clean your retainers on a periodic basis as needed.
2. ALWAYS keep retainers in the case provided. Retainer loss and breakage is usually a result of not being in the case. Take extra care not to wrap your retainers in napkins at mealtime since they could be thrown away too easily this way.
3. Retainers are made of a plastic substance and can warp if hot water is used on them. Take care to leave them out of the heat. (In other words, putting your case on the dashboard of a car in the summer is bad news.)
4. Pets will eat retainers. Don't leave them lying around.
5. The small lower retainer could be lost in the sink drain, so keep the drain covered when brushing the retainer.
6. When participating in sporting events or physical exercise, you should remove your retainer and place it in your retainer box for safe keeping

Fixed Retainer

A fixed retainer or splint is a retainer that is cemented in place on the backside of the teeth.

Please follow these instructions for fixed retainers

1. It is very important that you brush and floss thoroughly paying special attention to the fixed retainer.
2. Use interdental brushes to clean in between teeth.
3. Avoid eating sticky food and biting from front teeth.
4. If your fixed retainer becomes detached from any of the teeth, please call the office immediately.