Wearing the retainer after your treatment plan is over is one of the most critical aspects of orthodontics. It’s understandable if you don’t want to wear it or forget to put it in your mouth, but if you don’t, your perfectly straight teeth will shift. So, guess what? Your braces may need to be reapplied to your teeth.
Initially, you should wear the retainer all the time except when eating and brushing your teeth. You’ll only need to wear it at night after a while. This is usually where it becomes difficult to remember to put it on. Here are valuable tips to help you remember to wear your retainer:
Ask Someone To Remind You.
Asking friends at school and family at home to remind you to wear your retainer is the simplest way to ensure that you do. You could ask a friend who eats lunch with you to remind you to wear it if they notice you aren’t wearing it. No one likes to be reminded constantly of what they know they should be doing, so it should be a good way for you to remember wearing them.
Make A Note And Stick It Somewhere.
If you leave a note on a surface you see a lot – a mirror, headboard, fridge, etc. – you will be much more likely to remember to wear your retainer. The fridge or your dressing mirror are places we constantly visit; therefore, it is improbable that you will miss a boldly written note saying, “Are you wearing your retainer?”
Set a reminder on your phone.
Setting a reminder on your phone is an excellent way to keep track of your retainer. The best time to set the reminder is approximately 30 minutes before you usually go to bed. Your alarm will still sound if you forget or go to bed too early.
Keep your retainer case visible.
You can also keep your retainer case somewhere visible as a reminder. It’s best to keep it on your bathroom counter. It is very easy to trash your retainer with your lunch at school accidentally. Keeping the case visible also helps you avoid tossing it in the trash. Don’t always forget to use the case and never wrap your retaining in a napkin or paper towel.
If all of these fails, consider doing some research and watching some videos to see what happens if you don’t wear your retainer for the period you are to wear them for. Some may argue that this can have the opposite effect and cause mental scarring, but it just might work for you. However, before doing this, be sure you can handle it.
You are not expected to wear your retainer indefinitely. The aim is to give your teeth time to adapt to their new positions and to let the bones around the teeth stabilise. Don’t be concerned if you occasionally forget to wear your retainer. It will not interfere with your work; however, not wearing it for an extended period may cause problems. As a result, make sure you wear it consistently.
Beauty Smile Orthodontics specializes in braces for adults and children, alike. If you are interested in seeing how we can help you to achieve a happy and healthy smile, contact us today.