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Retainers and Appliances

A retainer is carefully designed to move or to hold your teeth. It is important that it is worn according to instructions and brought to each appointment.

If instructed to do so, wear your retainer at all times, even while you are asleep. It may be removed while eating, brushing your teeth, swimming, or playing vigorous sports activities. In two or three days your speech will return to normal with the appliance in place. Avoid flipping your retainer with your tongue. This can cause damage to your teeth or breakage of your appliance.

Your new appliance may make your teeth sore for a day or two, especially after an adjustment. If you have a sore spot on your gums call our office at (321) 254-5232 so that we can adjust the retainer.

Clean your appliance by brushing it daily with toothpaste. Soaking the retainer in pure white distilled vinegar can reduce tartar buildup. Never soak your retainer in any alcohol-containing solution, like mouthwash, because the retainer may be distorted. Flossing should be done every day.

Never wrap your appliance in a paper napkin or tissue and set it down on the table. You or someone else may throw it away. Don't put it in your pocket or you may break or lose it. Whenever it is not in your mouth it should be in its plastic retainer case.

Keep your retainer away from dogs or cats as they love to chew on them. Avoid storing them near any source of heat. Do not boil your retainer to sterilize it!

An additional charge will be incurred for lost or broken retainers.