Wearing your retainer: During the first week you will need to wear your retainer full-time except when you are eating, playing sports, swimming, or brushing your teeth. After the first week you will need to wear your retainer only at night. Retainer care: Brush your teeth before inserting your retainer and clean your retainer by brushing it also. When you are not wearing your retainer, be sure to put it back in the case. Since your retainer is made of plastic and could melt, never leave it in the sun, or near anything hot. Do not wrap your retainer in a napkin since it could be thrown away accidentally. In addition, keep your retainer away from household pets, they are attracted to the scent of saliva and many have been chewed by dogs. Lost and broken retainers: There is a replacement fee for each retainer that covers your office visit and the retainer materials since they are custom made in our lab. Retainer checkups: Please bring your retainer to each check up at our office. If you are having problems with your teeth or retainer, please let us know before your retainer checkup. Since all studies show that teeth shift as we age, please wear your retainer for years to keep your beautiful smile. Thank you for selecting our office for your orthodontic treatment. Back to top