Once your braces come off, that’s not necessarily the end of your treatment. You will need to continue to wear a retainer for some time to keep your teeth aligned. For teens or children, parents need to monitor this part of orthodontic treatment as it can sometimes be difficult to remember to wear the retainer and to care for it. An estimated 3.9 million children and teens are under orthodontic care in the US, according to AAO. Helping your kids understand proper retainer care is important. Let’s learn more about how to care for retainers.

1. Clean the Retainer Regularly

It’s a good idea to treat your retainer the same way you would your teeth. You need to carefully clean your retainer with a toothbrush just like brushing your teeth. Use water but not toothpaste. You may need to monitor this cleaning at first. Even your teenagers may need to be monitored at times to ensure care is being done correctly.

2. Wear as Directed

Properly caring for your retainer means using it as instructed. When it comes to orthodontics for teenagers, your teen’s orthodontist will give them detailed instructions on how to use the retainer when to wear it, and for how long to wear it. If you want to get the most out of orthodontics for teenagers and children, you need to monitor how often they are wearing the device. This will ultimately determine how successful the orthodontic treatment will be.

3. Keep the Retainer Away from Heat

Keep the retainer away from heat sources, such as a stove or hair styling tools. Heat can distort the shape of the retainer. This could result in needing to have the retainer resized. If the retainer starts to lose its shape, it will not be able to provide the proper support for the mouth and teeth. Your child or teen shouldn’t drink very hot liquids while wearing the retainer either, or they should not use very hot water to clean the retainer.

4. Keep the Retainer Away from Pets

A pet may attempt to use a retainer as a chew toy. This is why the device should be kept put away properly when not being used. It could create a choking hazard for your furry friend.

5. Soak the Retainer

You might want to consider soaking the retainer a few times a week for added cleaning. This can help to remove any bacteria that may have started growing.

If you’re in need of orthodontics for teenagers and kids, please contact us today at Bret Johnson Orthodontics. We are here for your orthodontic journey.