You and your braces have been together for a long time. You may not feel like your braces are old friends, but still you have logged some miles together. But one day, it will be time for your braces to come off, and you can finally reveal your new smile to the world.

Well, almost.

You see, even though your braces do the hard work of moving your teeth and jaw ligaments into their new positions, they still need time to settle in after the braces come off. That means wearing a retainer, which our orthodonist will give you, specified to fit your mouth. Every mouth is different, and there is no “set time” for a person wear a retainer. Some people may need to wear one for a few months, others may have to wear their retainer for the rest of their lives at night. But it is extremely important that you wear your retainer for the amount of time prescribed by your orthodontist, even if it’s for the rest of your life. If you don’t, your teeth may drift back out of alignment, and you may find yourself seeing our team again for a new set of braces!

Taking care of your retainer is not that hard. You need to clean it each night and you can do so by gently scrubbing it with a solution of vinegar and water, or ask our team for more details. If you take your retainer out at night, you should put it in a denture solution to soak. If you take it out to eat or play sports, make sure you put it in the case you are given. Retainers are easy to lose, and expensive to replace!

If you have been thinking about getting braces for yourself or your child, our team of professionals would love to meet you! If you live in the San Antonio, Texas, area and would like to schedule an appointment at Pierson & Saunders Orthodontics, call 210-695-1116 today to start planning your visit!