You and your braces will be spending quite a bit of time together. You probably won’t become old friends, but it will be a long-term relationship. Eventually, the time will come for them to be removed. And then…you will almost be ready to show off your smile to the world.

Your braces do the hard work of moving your teeth and jaw ligaments into their new places. Your orthodontist, Dr. [doctor_name] will give you a retainer to wear, which will help things settle in their new positions.

There are two kinds of retainers. A fixed retainer consists of a wire that runs behind your teeth. It has been cemented into place and can only be removed by the orthodontist. It needs to be brushed twice a day and flossed once a day along with your teeth. If you find flossing around your retainer difficult, try using a water flosser or a floss threader. A removable retainer consists of a wire mounted on an piece of acrylic. You should clean it every day with a vinegar and water solution, and soak it in a denture solution.

There will be times that you will need to remove your retainer. If you need to take it out, place it in the container that you comes with it. You will want to get into the habit of carrying that container in your pocket, backpack, purse or briefcase, since retainers are very expensive to replace!

If you it is time to improve your smile with orthodontics and you would like to learn more about your options, we would love to see you! If you live in the [city], [state], area and would like to make an appointment at [practice_name], call [phone] today.