Taking care of your teeth is a lifelong commitment, but it’s worth all the work and effort. This is especially true if you’ve had braces or are about to get them off. At Straight Smiles Orthodontics we love walking our patients through all the excitement of getting their braces removed, but we also try to ensure that they are serious about keeping their teeth in great shape for years to come.
Having healthy teeth for life doesn’t just happen by accident. That’s why Dr. Rafaill is here to share some of his best tips for how to keep your teeth straight, healthy, and strong even as you age. The best part is that most of these habits are easy to learn and implement, and only require a little practice to perfect them.
3 Top Care Tips
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Wearing and Caring for Your New Retainer
As Dr. Rafaill will tell you, challenge number one after getting your braces off is your retainer. There are two primary skills–remembering to wear it (and keep track of it!), and remembering to clean it. Depending on your personality and memory, these might be easy or difficult, but regardless we have seen patients of all ages and temperaments figure it out and build the habits they need to succeed.
Keeping your retainers clean is one of the easiest ways to help you keep wearing them. After all, no one wants to put a smelly, dirty retainer in their mouth! When you remember to clean your retainer daily, it will be much easier to keep yourself accountable about wearing it too.
To clean a removable retainer, you will need to rinse it in lukewarm water. Don’t rinse in hot water since that can damage the plastic or acrylic depending on which kind of retainer you have. After rinsing, gently use a cotton swab soaked in a gentle cleanser like alcohol-free mouthwash or hand soap. The trick is to find something that can kill bacteria and release plaque but won’t harm the retainer’s surface. We don’t recommend using toothpaste or a toothbrush as they can often have abrasive properties that can scratch your retainer.
Just give your retainer a final and thorough rinse and it should be ready to wear or store for later! If you’re having any trouble keeping up with your retainer, be sure to give Straight Smiles Orthodontics a call and we can help you practice your cleaning skills.
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Daily Hygiene Routine
This is the easy part! After years of working hard to keep braces clean, your beautiful new Straight Smile should feel like a breeze. Just don’t start slacking now that the braces are gone. Be sure to keep up with at least twice-daily brushing, and daily flossing to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
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Dental Cleaning
The last essential tip about post-brace care is to schedule a dental appointment! Going in for a thorough dental cleaning is the best way to set up your teeth for long-term success and a great, Straight Smile after many months or years with brackets and wires getting in the way. This also ensures that any hidden bits of plaque or tartar that might have been hard for you to clean will be removed. It’s time to enjoy your beautiful, great, straight smile!
The Extras
Teeth Whitening
If you’re like many of our patients, you’ve been looking forward to showing off not only straight teeth but also brilliantly white ones, too! We totally get it, and we have the answer for you! We have the fastest, most effective, least sensitive whitening treatment that any professional dental office can provide. That includes cost, convenience, and effectiveness, no matter how stained your teeth might be.
We Are Your Orthodontic Team!
We Are Your Orthodontic Team!Straight Smiles Orthodontics has really seen it all, and we are eager to provide that beautiful, Straight Smile you and/or your children have always desired at the most affordable fee that works for you! Naturally, we will always be there to aid in the transition from braces to retainers. If you are considering orthodontics for yourself or your child, we are happy to set you up with a free consultation at one of our three office locations in the metro Detroit area and you will be rewarded with the most beautiful, Straight Smile!