You need two tools to ensure oral health while wearing a retainer. Permanent retainers make it too difficult to use normal flossing tools. Every day flossing is a one-handed operation.
In order to floss your teeth with a permanent retainer, you will first need to get the floss beneath the retainer wire. The easiest way to do this is by using a floss threader. Floss threaders can be purchased online or at any drug store.
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.
First pass a piece of floss through the threader, and then insert beneath the wire. Pull the floss forward until it's beneath the retainer what's beneath the wire floss as you normally would. If the wire is glued to each individual tooth, you will need to pull the floss out, and then be inserted between each tooth.
Do Orthodontic Retainers Cause cavities? Orthodontic retainers do not cause cavities. Cavities are formed when virulent bacteria in our mouths process sugars into acids that effectively erode the tooth structure until it collapses into a hole in the tooth.
Once they no longer have braces, they may wear the retainer 24 hours a day or just at night. Permanent retainers stay in the mouth all the time and can last for up to 20 years. This article discusses permanent retainers, including the advantages and disadvantages, costs, and removal procedure.
Permanent retainers are very durable, but if the wire fails, it will need to be replaced. It can be uncomfortable or annoying at first. Once the retainer is put in place, it might be on for a long time! Some people find this appliance uncomfortable at first, although they do eventually adjust.
Create a loop about six inches from the end of your piece of floss. Slide the loop over the two lower front teeth allowing the two ends to hang out of your mouth. Holding the two loose ends, pull them downward until the loop of floss snaps beneath the retainer which is behind the teeth.
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.
Permanent retainers are often recommended by orthodontists after braces to prevent your teeth from moving back to their original place. Your orthodontist may also suggest one if you have difficulty adhering to their guidelines for removable retainers.
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.
While manual brushing can be sufficient if done correctly, powered toothbrushes have features that make the job easier, faster, and more effective. And they won't damage delicate braces, permanent retainers, and other orthodontic appliances.
The second alternative is a bonded or fixed retainers. These retainers are metal wires that are glued to the inside of the upper and lower teeth to hold everything in place. Bonded retainers don't need to be removed, they are semi-permanently fixed in place.
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!
Conclusion: Orthodontic treatment and fixed retainers were associated with an increased incidence of gingival recession, increased plaque retention, and increased bleeding on probing; however, the magnitude of the difference in recession was of low clinical significance.
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.
The retainer may cause a slight lisp, but don't be alarmed: speech usually returns to normal within a few days. The day after you receive your retainer, your teeth may be a bit sore. This won't last long. The tissue on the roof of your mouth may become a little tender.
You'll have to wear your retainer for at least 10 years after you get your braces off or finish your aligner treatment. Many people wear their retainers for the rest of their lives. During the first three months after braces or aligners, you should wear your retainers most of the time.
It is not unusual for the bonded retainer to feel strange at first. However, you will get used to the feel of it within the first week to ten days. The retainer may feel bumpy, or “new”, but should not feel sharp or rough.
Permanent retainers are more common on lower teeth and usually only impact your front four to six teeth. For best results, retainers should be in place within six months of finishing your orthodontic treatment.
For patients who wear traditional metal or ceramic braces or permanent retainers, it is advised that you avoid hard and chewy foods that could damage your braces by damaging brackets, bending wires or loosening bands.
Removing a Permanent Retainer
The cost of removing the retainer is usually rolled into your total cost for orthodontic treatment. If it is not part of this plan, the cost for removal can range from $150 to $500, depending on where you go, whom you see, and the difficulty of the procedure.
The life of a permanent retainer is actually about 10-20 years or so, depending on how well it's treated. That means you clean thoroughly around it and you report any possible damage right away.