Keeping Teeth Straight After Clear Aligners Treatments

It takes dedication to wear clear aligners often enough, but patients need to know what to do afterward. However, without the right after-treatment care, the teeth might begin to shift. That undoes the work of the clear aligners. That means the patient will need to have a retainer after the aligners come off.

Wearing the retainer often

A retainer can keep the tension over the teeth, preventing them from shifting. The teeth often do go back to the original locations if the patient does not wear a retainer. That is why many patients choose clear aligners to begin with. They might want the treatment after not wearing retainers after the first teeth-straightening treatment.

The patient needs to wear the retainer each night for the rest of their life. That is not as hard as it seems since the retainer is not invasive. Each retainer is similar to the aligners during treatment, but it must only be worn at night. Plus, the retainers can protect the teeth from grinding during the night. Still, the retainers can begin to wear down. That means the patient might need to have a new retainer every year or so.

Caring for a retainer

It is essential to keep the retainer free from damaging plaque and bacteria. That allows the teeth to stay healthy after the treatment. It requires cleaning the retainer well each day. It is critical to avoid cleaning the retainer using toothpaste. It is abrasive, meaning it can scratch the retainer. A rough surface is suitable for bacteria, and the roughness reduces the retainer’s shininess.

There are a few cleaning options. Patients might use a soft toothbrush and soap to scrub the surface of the device. Patients can also get retainer-cleaning tablets. Patients can place the tablet in some water and leave the retainer there for a while.

The solution removes bacteria and plaque on the retainer, allowing the patient to clean it. It also makes the retainer smell and tastes better. When using a tablet, the patient only needs to allow the retainer to soak for 20 minutes. Still, leaving the retainer there most of the day does not harm anything.

Having retainer checks

It is critical for everyone to have regular orthodontic appointments, but even more so for retainer patients. The orthodontist can look over the patient’s bite to see if the teeth are moving around. The orthodontist might ask what the bite feels like and see if the teeth meet. If patients notice shifting, they may look over the retainer for damage. If necessary, the patient can get a new one made up.