Since the reatiners are bonded, or glued, to your teeth exactly like braces it is imperative that you do not bite into anything hard or you will dislodge your retainer (ie. apples, pears, candy bars, frozen foods etc...). All hard foods need to be cut and placed in the back of the mouth.
You can eat anything you want, but you should avoid hard or sticky foods that apply heavy pressure on the bonded retainers. Do not chew sticky or hard foods that apply direct pressure on the retainer.
Eating with bonded retainers: You can eat and drink straight away after you have your retainers fitted but you need to remember not to bite anything hard, sticky or chewy with your front teeth as this may cause your bonded retainer to break.
If not repaired or replaced quickly the teeth will shift and move. Fixed retainers are made out of various metal alloys. Like all metal that are subject to stress they can stretch over time. If the retainer stretches some spaces and small movement can occur.
You might wonder “Do I need a removable retainer if I have a permanent retainer?”. Even when using fixed retainers you still need a removable retainer if you had an orthodontic treatment that changed your arch shape.
The drawbacks of permanent retainers are that they: can make it more difficult to clean and floss the teeth. may trap in food particles that eventually cause cavities or gum disease. may cause discomfort when a person's tongue brushes against the wire.
Since the reatiners are bonded, or glued, to your teeth exactly like braces it is imperative that you do not bite into anything hard or you will dislodge your retainer (ie. apples, pears, candy bars, frozen foods etc...). All hard foods need to be cut and placed in the back of the mouth.
How long are permanent retainers worn? Usually, you will wear a retainer for your lifetime. There are a few exceptions, such as if your teeth shift and require further orthodontic treatment. Usually, though, you will continue to wear your retainer to ensure your teeth stay put.
They might. The purpose of the permanent retainer is to keep your teeth in place. Removing it might allow for some shifting. The longer you leave a permanent retainer in, the less likelihood there is for teeth later shifting.
Teeth will tend to shift if they aren't held in place. If a broken permanent retainer is not repaired after a few weeks – or several months – it is likely that you will see some shifting of your teeth.
90% of the time, the metal piece that you swallowed will pass through your body on its own. Also, our intestinal tracts contain enough acidity to dissolve small pieces of metal in no time. Any pieces that aren't dissolved will pass through in as soon as a day after the occurrence.
Because teeth begin to shift naturally as we age, a permanent retainer typically offers better long-term results for teeth straightening than a removable one. You can't forget to put it in — it's already there!
Since your teeth no longer have the pressure once treatment is complete, there is a normal settling process that occurs. In some cases, these tiny shifts can actually improve the bite even more. Additionally, your body undergoes constant change.
Your retainers ensure that your teeth stay in the right place. Retainers keep your smile in place when active treatment is complete. Adults need to wear their retainers for life, but adolescents may be able to stop wearing them after about 10 years.
While some patients have successfully worn their retainers for up to 20 years, others may need to have them removed or replaced sooner. In most cases, there are no long-term effects to wearing a permanent retainer so long as you are watching for the indications of it needing to be removed and replaced.
Many people believe that some part of their appliances must be causing the stench. However, this is not the case. Braces or retainers contribute to bad breath just as much as normal teeth do.
Braces, retainers or dental fillings
Most metal tooth fillings or other permanent dental implants won't cause a problem. If you have detachable metal braces or a retainer, you should take them out before you get an MRI.
#4 – If you're wearing retainers, alcohol can cause them to break. If you're still wearing retainers after your braces treatment, it's important to be careful when consuming alcohol. Alcohol can cause the plastic or metal in your retainers to become brittle and break.
Certain foods can affect the retainer's effectiveness.
When an orthodontic patient bites into any tough/hard foods while wearing a permanent retainer, it can potentially cause the metal wire to bend in the wrong ways. Some examples of food that can pose this type of risk are apples and steak.
Mouthwash
Mouthwash, containing alcohol, can also dry out both a retainer and the mouth. If no other options are available, people can try dipping a retainer in non-alcoholic mouthwash for 2-3 minutes, rinsing with cold water, then gently brushing with a soft toothbrush.
If the wire is glued to just the teeth on the end, then you will be able to pull the floss through once and then continue to floss, all of the teeth behind the wire. Make sure to floss beneath your retainer every day. With practice, this will become quick and easy.
Many dentists recommend the purchase of a Waterpik to make flossing with a permanent retainer easier. Pressurized jets of water directed between teeth and underneath your permanent retainer remove bits of food and massage gums. Waterpiks can be as effective as regular flossing, but they can be expensive.