After months, or maybe even years of wearing braces. Your retainer may not look like much. Compared to all of that metal, your retainer looks like a pretty simple device. And it is, but it has an important job to do. Your make sure your teeth don’t drift out of alignment as they settle into their new positions. Because of that, it is important that you don’t damage it.
You can avoid damaging your retainer by taking it out when you eat or play sports. If you have a fixed retainer, you should wear a mouthguard during games or practices. Hard or tough foods, chewing on pens or other objects can damage your retainer. If you wear a removable retainer, you will probably notice the damage when you take it out to eat or for cleaning. If you have a fixed retainer, you may not know it is damaged until you notice that your teeth are moving out of their proper alignment. Whatever the case may be, you should contact your orthodontists as soon as you notice the damage, and have your retainer repaired or replaced. This is especially important if you are in your mid 20’s or younger, since your teeth are still moving as your jaw continues to grow. In the meantime, you should avoid hard and tough foods, and wear a mouthguard at night to keep your teeth where they need to be.
If you have been thinking about getting braces for yourself or a member of your family, our orthodontists, Dr. Christopher Liang would love to see you! To make an appointment at Liang Orthodontics in Washington, DC call 202-966-7711 today. We look forward to seeing you soon!