How to Maintain Oral Health While Wearing Retainers?

As a part of orthodontic treatment, retainers are often worn to keep the teeth aligned, and therefore good oral hygiene must be observed when wearing the retainers. As many people, including a dentist in Omaha, stated, negligence towards retainers and teeth will cause dental problems. Here is a guide on the proper way to take care of teeth while in retainers.

Why should retainers be cleaned at all?

Maintaining oral hygiene is also a factor to consider while in retainers and this involves cleaning the retainers. Retainers can harbor food particles and bacteria to form plaque and tartar deposits. Thus, it is advisable to brush them every day to minimize any effect on the teeth and gums. 

Use only a soft toothbrush and water for cleaning your retainers or use special solutions that are usually used for cleaning retainers. This makes sure that your retainers do not get contaminated by bacteria and, therefore, will be as durable as possible.

How does one properly brush and floss their teeth when they wear retainers?

One should ensure that their normal dental care practice is not interfered with by the retainers which are usually fixed in the mouth. Flossing is very necessary and should be done at least twice a day, making sure you cover all four quadrants of your mouth. It may be better to use floss threaders or interdental brushes to floss around the retainer if needed.

Remember to always brush your teeth with your retainer out since one should make sure that every area of the mouth is cleaned thoroughly. Fluoride toothpaste is recommended to prevent cavities in your teeth.

What should be done about the regular handling and storage of retainers?

When you are not using the retainer, it should be kept well to avoid getting damaged or contaminated in any way. It’s always good to use a retainer case and never leave the retainer exposed as it may accumulate bacteria or you may misplace it. Thus, one should not wrap it in tissue because it is quite easy to damage or misplace it accidentally. Proper storage of the retainer guarantees it does not develop some filthy build-ups, which are unhealthy to the mouth.

What makes it necessary to maintain consistency with dental check-ups?

Every time one wears retainers, he or she should visit a dentist for check-up as often as possible. Your dentist will check the state of your teeth and the state of your retainer and whether they need any fixing. These visits are always important, in fact any changes in the placement of plaque, signs of decay and complications involving the fit of retainers can easily be seen during these appointments. Regular continuity in the dental check-up means that your oral health is being checked while on the orthodontist treatment.

Conclusion

Caring for your teeth while using retainers is possible when you develop a regimen that will enable you to brush your teeth properly, be cautious about what you are taking, and how you can clean your retainers correctly. 

When used properly and cleaned as prescribed, correctly brushing and flossing your teeth, avoiding foods that are damaging as well as storing your retainer in the correct manner, will ensure that the retainer will not damage your teeth and will last for a very long time. By adopting these measures, one will be confident that their oral health as well as the outcome of the orthodontic work being done on them will be well safeguarded.