Maintaining your Fixed Retainer
Through the course of several alignment sessions your braces helped to pull your teeth into a better alignment. With your teeth in their new position your mouth will function better and you will have a more appealing smile.
It’s important to keep in mind that braces are just one step of the process of aligning your teeth. The second step involves wearing a retainer. Without this retention phase, the residual tension in your periodontal ligaments could slowly pull your teeth back out of their perfect alignment.
The metal wire or wires of your fixed retainer is cemented in place behind your teeth and cannot be removed by anyone other than your orthodontist. Just like when you were wearing braces, there are certain foods and activities you need to be mindful of.
Chewing gum, and eating sticky or hard crunchy foods can bend the wire or even cause some of the cement holding it in place to come loose. If a wire does come loose and is threatening to harm your gums or tongue you can secure the point in some orthodontic wax.
If you do have a problem with your fixed retainer it’s important to call us as soon as possible to schedule an appointment to cement the retainer back in place. The longer you go without having it repaired, the longer you will need to wear it.
It’s important to maintain your oral hygiene routine, which includes cleaning the back of your teeth and around the wire. Interdental brushes have narrow, bristle heads at an angle that makes it easy to work them in around the wire and other hard to reach places. Some people also like to use a dental water jet or oral irrigator. A floss threader can come in handy if you are having issues with getting floss between the teeth anchoring the wire.
If you have any questions or concerns about your fixed retainer, please call us at 512-270-0030 to schedule an appointment.