Now that the braces installed by your Quality Orthodontic Care orthodontist have successfully adjusted your teeth to their ideal alignment, your braces can be removed. Even after your braces have been removed a retention phase is required to make sure your teeth will stay in their ideal alignment for a lifetime.
Even in your new alignment there will still be some residual tension in the periodontal ligaments anchoring your teeth in your mouth. While this tension subsides, you will need to use a retainer.
If your teeth required a significant amount of adjustment by braces, your Quality Orthodontic Care orthodontist might recommend installing a fixed retainer. This is basically a sturdy metal band that is cemented in place behind your teeth to help hold your teeth in their new alignment. Most people with a fixed retainer need to have it in their mouth for about as long as they wore braces.
A fixed retainer is cemented in place and can’t be removed. This means it will require cleaning as part of your daily oral hygiene routine. To help brush away plaque and food particles from hard to reach places, you might want to turn to interdental brushes. You could also try using oral irrigators or a dental water jet.
If you find flossing between the teeth and around the gum line is a challenging, you might want to try using a floss threader with waxed floss. The wax coating also helps the strand of floss slip into place easier.
If you have questions about the best way to clean your fixed retainer, you can call Quality Orthodontic Care at 770-901-2433 to set up a consultation. We proudly serve everyone in John’s Creek, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Lawrenceville, and Cumming GA.