Tips to Remember Your Retainer
Posted on December 8, 2020
Abby, is your retainer back in your mouth? Hey Mason, don’t forget your retainer before you play outside, okay?
Sound familiar? Does your child or teen (or even you!) need multiple reminders to find their retainer and put it back in their mouth? We understand and have been there, too!
This is a time to celebrate! As you know, the hardest part – braces, rubber bands, and appliances – is over, at least for the near future! However, the next phase of orthodontic treatment is just as important: the retention phase.
Teeth tend to move as we get older and they have a great memory to move back to their original position. Retainers have an important job to hold the teeth in their new places to train them to stay there. This is why it is so important to wear your retainers during the times that we tell you.
Here are some helpful tips to remember to put the retainer back in:
- Proper Storage – Use your retainer case! We give you a retainer case because this is the best place to put a retainer. Do NOT put retainers in napkins, on the lunch table, or in a bag – this is how they get accidentally thrown away!
- Routine – Encourage the retainer to be put in its case in the same place. Whether it is in the bathroom, on a nightstand, or on a kitchen counter, the routine of being in one place will help them remember where it is.
- Sticky Notes – Place sticky notes in places your child will see them, including the bathroom mirror, bedroom door, and the door they use before they go outside. Make them fun to help them remember!
- Find a Friend (or Family Member) – It is okay to get help from someone in their house to remind them (only if it is okay with that person)!
- Use an Alarm – For older children and teens, have them set an alarm on their phone to remind them to put their retainer back in their mouth.
In addition to using their retainer, it is also important to clean the retainer on a regular basis. Follow the instructions our team gives you to keep your retainer clean and free of germs by cleaning it any time it is out of your mouth. The cleaning method may vary depending on what kind of retainer you have.
We hope these tips will help keep your retainers do their job and keep your teeth straight for years to come!