Once you are done wearing braces, it’s time to get retainers so your teeth don’t shift back to their original positions. Permanent retainers, also known as bonded retainers or lingual retainers, are glued in and cannot be removed. That has a lot of advantages, but it seems like flossing would be difficult.
Flossing with retainers is easier than you think! With the proper tools and techniques, you can floss quickly and easily with your bonded retainers. Zombek Orthodontics has a few tips on how to floss and care for your glued-in retainers.
A permanent retainer looks different from the removable plastic retainers you may know. The three most common types of retainers are the Hawley retainer, the Essix retainer, and the permanent retainer.
The Hawley retainer is made of acrylic, and wires fit over and around the teeth to hold them in place. The Essix retainer looks like a clear aligner. It is also made of acrylic and custom-molded to fit over the teeth. Both of these retainers are removable.
The permanent retainer, or lingual retainer, is not removable. It’s a wire that is bonded to the back of your teeth to hold them in place.
The lingual retainer is usually bonded to the back of the lower canines, but it also can be bonded to the back of the upper canines. The wire stretches across the back of the lateral and central incisors, holding all of the front teeth in place. Keeping those teeth in place usually keeps the other teeth in the proper position.
When you hear the word “permanent,” you think it’s, well, permanent. However, a permanent retainer lasts about 10-20 years before it usually needs to be replaced. This is because it can get bent or broken, or the bonding agent can wear out, causing the retainer to pop off the teeth.
We will check your retainer once you receive it. Your dentist can also check during regular cleanings to see whether there are any problems with your retainer. We can replace your retainer when the time comes.
What happens if your retainer breaks or comes loose? Permanent retainers are made of a very strong wire and are cemented to the teeth. They are made to be durable and to last for many years.
However, accidents can happen, and your retainer can break or come loose. It’s also possible to bend the wire, which will cause the teeth to move. The first thing to remember is not to panic! While it’s rare, it does happen, and Zombek Orthodontics is here to help!
If your fixed retainer is damaged or comes loose, the first thing you should do is call your orthodontist. The sooner we take care of your retainer, the less chance your teeth have to move out of place. We will bring you in for a repair or replacement.
You may think it will be difficult to floss with a permanent retainer. Flossing your teeth with a permanent retainer is easy with the right tools.
Floss threaders should be familiar to you. They are the needle-looking plastic devices we recommend to help you floss around the wires of your braces. Floss threaders are made of thin plastic and slide between your teeth and under wires, pulling the dental floss with them. You can also get floss threaders that are single pieces of plastic attached to the end of a piece of floss, so it’s all one piece.
To floss with permanent retainers, use the floss threader to pull the dental floss through your teeth and under the permanent retainer. Floss between your teeth, then lift the floss in the front while keeping it under the retainer.
Move to the next set of teeth and floss between them. Do this until all your teeth are flossed, then remove it from under the retainer. Floss the rest of your teeth as normal.
Here's a tutorial from the Weston orthodontist, Dr. Zombek, for how to floss with your permanent retainer!
Some people like to use water flossers, such as a Waterpik, to floss teeth. These can help dislodge food particles and plaque from around their retainers and between their teeth. However, they don’t have the scrubbing power of dental floss, so they shouldn’t be a replacement for it.
It’s OK to use a water flosser as a supplement to your dental floss, but be sure to floss with dental floss at least once a day. A water flosser can help keep your teeth and retainers clean between uses of dental floss.
There are other ways to care for your permanent retainer. Here are five tips to ensure that your fixed retainer lasts a long time.
Permanent retainers have a lot of advantages. They can’t be lost or forgotten like removable retainers, and you never have to worry about whether you’re wearing them long enough each day. Brushing and flossing with permanent retainers may seem challenging at first, but it’s actually easier than you think.
Zombek Orthodontics is here for you if you have any problems with your permanent retainers. Schedule an appointment with us in our Weston, FL, or Hollywood, FL, orthodontic office and we can help you out. We know how hard you worked to get that beautiful smile. We want to ensure you properly care for your teeth and retainers so you keep that smile beautiful!
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