Post-Treatment Retainers
Retainer Styles for Lasting Smiles
Congratulations – you're done with your active orthodontic treatment. Now the essential maintenance phase begins, which means wearing a retainer.
Retainers help maintain the alignment achieved during treatment and play an important role in protecting your new smile.
At Dr. Tim Dumore & Team Orthodontics, we offer several types of retainers to suit different needs:
- Removable retainers with an acrylic arch and a thin metal wire that sits across the front of the teeth.
- Clear retainer trays that fit snugly over your teeth, similar to clear aligners.
- Fixed retainers, which are thin wires bonded to the backs of the front teeth to help keep them in position.
Retainers are the final step in your orthodontic journey, helping protect the results you worked hard to achieve. Our Winnipeg team is here to guide you through this stage and make maintaining your new smile simple and comfortable.
Why You Need a Retainer
There are two main reasons you need a retainer after your active orthodontic treatment is finished, and they go hand in hand: stabilization and prevention.
During treatment with braces or clear aligners, your teeth are gradually moved into new positions. This movement affects not only the visible part of the tooth, but also the roots of your teeth within the jawbone. As the teeth move, the surrounding bone and tissues must slowly rebuild around the roots to hold them securely in place.
This process takes time and can continue for several months after your braces or aligners are removed. During this period, your teeth are more likely to shift if they are not properly supported.
The fibres and ligaments that hold your teeth in place also need time to adjust after orthodontic treatment. These tissues have a natural tendency to pull teeth back toward their previous positions, especially in the months following treatment.
Preserving Your Results
A retainer helps hold your teeth in their new positions while the surrounding bone and tissues stabilize. Wearing your retainer as instructed gives your mouth the time it needs to adjust and keep your teeth properly aligned.
Retainers also help prevent teeth from gradually shifting over time. Even after orthodontic treatment, teeth can move due to everyday forces such as chewing, aging, and natural changes in the jaw.
By wearing your retainer consistently, you can protect the results of your orthodontic treatment and maintain your straight smile for years to come.
Getting Used to Your Retainer
When you first start wearing your orthodontic retainer, it may feel slightly tight or unfamiliar. This is normal. Your teeth and mouth simply need time to adjust after braces or clear aligner treatment. Some patients may also notice mild pressure or small changes in speech during the first few days.
The best way to adjust is to wear your retainer exactly as instructed by your orthodontist. Consistent wear helps your teeth stabilize in their new positions and allows your mouth to adapt more quickly. If speaking feels different at first, try reading or talking out loud for a short time each day to help your speech return to normal.
Most patients adjust to their orthodontic retainer within a few days to a week. During this time, it is important to keep wearing your retainer as directed so your teeth remain properly aligned.
If your retainer feels extremely tight, causes discomfort that does not improve, or does not seem to fit properly, contact Dr. Tim Dumore & Team Orthodontics. Our team can check the fit of your retainer and make sure your treatment results stay protected.
Retainer Instructions
- Wear your retainer at all times, until Dr. Dumore instructs otherwise.
- Take your retainer out when eating, and always put it back in its case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunchrooms or restaurants.)
- Clean the retainer thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and warm soapy water.
- When your retainer is not in your mouth, it should ALWAYS be in its case. Pets love to chew on them!
- Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading, or singing out loud to get used to it faster.
- Retainers are breakable, so treat yours with care. If your retainer gets lost or broken, call us immediately.
- Always bring your retainer to your appointments.
- Retainer replacements are expensive, but with proper care they will last for years!
- Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine and napkins.
Post-Treatment FAQs
Learn more about retainers and the retention phase by exploring these frequently asked questions from our patients.
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How long do I have to wear my retainer?
Retainers are a long commitment for all orthodontic patients. They help keep your new, straighter smile in place after finishing treatment with braces or clear aligners.
You will need to wear your retainer full-time for at least eight weeks after your active orthodontic treatment is finished, and then nightly afterwards, with your orthodontist's approval.
Even people who have never had orthodontic treatment will experience their teeth shifting over time; orthodontic patients are even more prone to this and should wear retainers for as long as they want straight teeth.
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How often do I have to wear my retainer?
In the first few months of wearing your retainer after active orthodontic treatment, your orthodontist will instruct you to wear it 24 hours a day, every day. This period is when your teeth are most likely to relapse (shift back to their pre-treatment positions).
During this time, you'll take your retainer out only to eat, brush and floss your teeth, or play sports (when you'll need to wear a sports mouth guard instead).
Over time, your teeth will settle into their new positions, and your risk of relapse will decrease. When your orthodontist determines you're ready, you'll be able to start wearing your retainer for fewer hours each day. For many people, this means wearing the retainer only overnight.
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How often should I replace my retainer?
With proper care and correct use, most retainers can last for years.
The following signs indicate that a new retainer might be in order:
Cracks or Chips
When you start noticing chips or cracks in your retainer, it's time to replace it. This type of damage will worsen over time and compromise the retainer's structural integrity, making it less effective.
Poor Fit
Retainers are designed to be sturdy and durable, but they may loosen over time due to wear. It's important to replace your retainer if you notice it's loose, because it's no longer effectively supporting your teeth.
Excessive Buildup
You should clean your retainer regularly to keep it in good condition. However, even with regular cleaning, stubborn buildup can develop over time. If your retainer has buildup that cannot be removed through thorough cleaning, it should be replaced.
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Can I eat or drink while wearing my retainer?
You should remove your retainer when eating. It should also be taken out when drinking hot beverages or dark, strongly coloured drinks, as these can warp or stain the retainer.
Plain cold or room-temperature water is the only drink safe to consume while wearing your retainer.
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How do I clean my orthodontic retainer?
Clean your retainer at least once daily using a soft-bristled toothbrush and mild, unscented liquid soap. This helps remove food debris, plaque, and bacteria. Rinse the retainer with cool or room temperature water to wash away the soap when you're finished.
We also recommend soaking your retainer with specially made retainer cleaning tablets dissolved in water as needed. This can help loosen any stubborn buildup and leave your retainer feeling fresh.
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How do I store my retainer?
When you're not wearing or cleaning your retainer, it's important to store it securely to prevent loss or damage. We recommend keeping your retainer in its case whenever it's not in your mouth.
Always remember to clean and dry your retainer and its carrying case thoroughly first to prevent bacterial growth.
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What happens if I forget to put my retainer in?
It's important to wear your retainer as prescribed by your orthodontist to maintain your orthodontic treatment results.
That said, if you occasionally forget to wear your retainer for short periods of time, you probably have nothing to worry about. Just go back to wearing it consistently as soon as you remember.
Keep in mind that if you don't wear your retainer consistently, your teeth could shift out of position, and you'll require additional corrective orthodontic treatment to realign them. To avoid this, prioritize wearing your retainer as prescribed.