If you think you cannot live without Invisalign retainers; they are an essential component of your long-term smiling journey, you might even be right! If you follow your dentist’s instructions and wear your braces on a regular basis, you can have a beautiful, healthy smile for many years to come.
At first, you may not give your clear plastic Invisalign retainers much thought, but they are crucial to maintaining your teeth in ideal alignment for many years to come. This is not only a single effort from your end; a Concord family dentist will also play their role for you to achieve the desired outcome.
Let us speak about why retainers are so crucial to maintaining the beautiful smile you have. Keep in mind that making a small effort today to improve your smile can have a significant impact later on!
Retainers act as roots for your aligned smile.
Think of your teeth as young trees. As the treatment for Invisalign goes on, the aligners gently push the teeth into the right places.
But, just like young trees need time to grow strong roots in the ground, your teeth and the bones around them need time to get used to where they are now. Supporting your teeth in their new places while the bone and muscles heal is what retainers do.
Retainers help prevent teeth shift.
Teeth naturally move back to where they were before treatment, even if the treatment worked. Part of the reason for this is normal stresses like grinding and eating, and part of the reason is that the bones and muscles around your teeth “remember” where they were before.
Retainers stop this unwanted movement by acting as a soft shield. They make sure your teeth stay perfectly aligned.
Retainers also offer additional benefits beyond straight teeth.
In addition to keeping your teeth straight, retainers have some other benefits that you might not expect. They can help keep gaps between your teeth from showing up again, especially if that was a problem that was fixed during treatment. Retainers can also help keep your bite straight, which keeps your jaw working well and stops problems from happening in the future.
Wearing retainers is a small investment for long-term benefits.
When you get Invisalign, think of it as an investment in your smile. Retainers are a small but important way to keep that investment safe.
If you do not wear your retainer regularly, you could lose all the hard work and money you spent on treatment. Always keep in mind that wearing your braces for a few hours a day can keep you from needing more dental work in the future.
Follow the instructions of your dentist carefully.
Your dentist will tell you exactly how often and for how long you need to wear your retainers because each patient’s situation is different. Most dentists say that after treatment, you should wear your retainers full-time for a while and then every night for long-term upkeep. Sticking to these steps is important if you want to keep your beautiful smile.
A guide to caring for your retainers.
You need to take good care of your retainers just like you do with your teeth. Here is a quick guide:
- Make sure to use soft toothpaste and a soft toothbrush every day to clean your retainers.
- Use clean water to rinse them well.
- When you are not using them, put them in their proper case. This will keep them from getting lost or broken.
- Make sure your retainers fit well and are in good shape by going to the dentist for regular checks.
- Avoid hot water. If you put your retainers in hot water, the plastic can bend, which can make them not fit right or work right. Instead, rinse them with cool water.
- Do not soak in mouthwash. Even though mouthwash can help keep your teeth clean, it can damage your braces over time. Instead, rinse them with water.
- If your retainers get dirty or damaged, you might want to use a special cleaner made just for retainers to make them look good again.