After your braces are removed, your dentist will suggest that you wear a retainer for a number of weeks and most likely every night for most of your life. This is to keep the teeth from shifting back and ruining the beautiful work that braces did for your teeth. Retainers are another appliance that will take some getting use to, and you may be tempted to make excuses not to wear it. Don’t do it. We have heard every excuse in the book, and there is no valid reason not to wear your retainer.rnrn[i]’My retainer was picking up alien radio signals.'[/i]rnrnNo. That’s your radio. Wear your retainer. Your braces put your teeth there, but your retainer keeps them there. If you don’t wear your retainer, your teeth will ‘relapse’, you will have to wear braces again, and after the braces come off, you’ll still need to wear your retainer. rnrn[i]’The retainer was in my pocket and ended up in a hot wash.'[/i]rnrnYou do not have teeth in your pocket. Wear your retainer. Retainers are made of highly complex materials that are especially designed to last in the hostile environment of the mouth. They should be cleaned in tepid water only. Not the hot wash. The retainer will need replacing as soon as possible. rnrn[i]’My retainer stinks! I don’t even want to open the sock draw where I keep it.'[/i]rnrnSocks don’t even have teeth. Wear your retainer. Ok, wash your retainer, then wear it! There is cleaner especially for retainers, and a ten-minute soak once a week should do the trick. Actually, while you’re at it, brush your teeth and put the dirty socks in the laundry basket. rnrn[i]’My retainer is too uncomfortable to wear. I can’t talk with it in.'[/i]rnrnTell your dentist that your retainer is uncomfortable and he will adjust it so that it is comfortable to wear. You may talk funny for the first few weeks, but you will get used to it!rnrn[i]’I don’t have a retainer. I lost it.'[/i]rnrnYour dentist will suggest you wear a retainer after your braces are removed. Wear it! Moving the teeth is what the braces do. Keeping them in the right place for the next twenty or so years is your job. And your retainer’s. If you have lost your retainer, you will need to get another one.
