You can not eat sticky or chewy food like gum or candies with the retainer. You should not eat food with artificial coloring as it will stain your teeth and retainer. Brushing and flossing your teeth before and after wearing your retainers is vital. Avoid eating any beverage or food while wearing your retainers.
ARE THERE ANY EATING RESTRICTIONS WITH THESE RETAINERS? Yes! 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...).
Permanent retainers can break, although it is not considered an orthodontic emergency. They can break due to various factors like chewing and biting, accidents and impacts, or fractures from biting hard food.
A person may have an increased risk of developing gum disease or cavities if they fail to clean properly around the permanent retainer. The retainer may also cause some discomfort if it becomes bent or broken. If this happens, a person should consult an orthodontist as soon as possible.
Permanent retainers aren't truly permanent. They're only called “permanent” because they can't be removed easily, unlike removable retainers. Permanent retainers do eventually wear out, but they've been known to last for upwards of 20 years. When they wear out, they can be removed and replaced.
Sometimes people ask about a retainer causing swollen gums, whilst this is technically possible if the retainer is touching the gums, it is highly unlikely as most retainers fit so tightly around the teeth that they don't move around and rub.
They can also damage surrounding healthy teeth if they aren't taken care of. Also, there is a chance of gum recession with permanent retainers due to the excessive pressure between wire and gums.
You MUST floss underneath a permanent retainer in order to prevent gum disease and cavities. You have to use special tools and techniques to keep a permanent retainer and the teeth underneath clean. Without flossing, you are at risk for heavy plaque and tartar buildup on and around the permanent retainer.
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.
1. Do not eat any solid food for 2-3 hours after the retainer is bonded. 4. Our staff member will show you the flossing technique with the fixed retainer using floss threaders.
At Orthodontic Gallery our advice is, that you must wear your retainers for as long as you want straight teeth. Over time and with the addition of fixed bonded retainers you may wear your removable retainers less often. But, we will never advise you to stop wearing your retainers completely.
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.
If you swallow a braces wire or retainer wire, again – don't panic. The wire will likely be passed naturally – the same way that a bracket would pass. Studies show that “once a foreign object reaches the stomach, it has an 80% to 90% possibility of passing through the gut with no problems.
With bonded retainers, avoiding biting into apples, corn on the cob, or any meat off of bones (i.e. ribs, etc.) is advised to help prevent breakage of the wire.
Several long-term studies have demonstrated a strong tendency for relapse of anterior alignment after orthodontic treatment and retention. 1 For this reason, many orthodontists believe that permanent retention with a fixed retainer is the only way to maintain ideal dental alignment after treatment.
The simple answer is, no. If your gums are damaged by, for example periodontitis, the most severe form of gum disease, it's not possible for receding gums to grow back. However, even though receding gums can't be reversed there are treatments that can help to stop the problem from getting worse.
The new bone around the teeth may not be completely solidified after your braces come off, and you might notice a small amount of looseness. This isn't a cause for concern–it's normal. It's what your retainer is for.
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.
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.
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.
At first, your retainers will feel bulky, and speech may be a problem. 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.