Your Retainer: Protecting Your New Smile
After orthodontic treatment, a set of retainers keep your teeth from shifting back toward their original positions. This custom-made appliance holds your smile in place while the surrounding bone and tissues stabilize. Wearing your retainer as directed helps maintain alignment, preserves your results, and supports long-term oral health.
Daily Habits for Successful Retainer Wear
Wearing your retainer properly is just as important as finishing braces or aligner treatment. These simple daily habits will help protect your results, keep your retainer in good condition, and ensure your smile stays beautifully aligned for years to come.
It is usually advisable to wear your retainer full-time for the first 6 months after your orthodontic treatment is finished. Only remove it for meals and drinks other than water to keep your teeth from shifting. Afterwards, retainers should still be worn at night time for as long as possible.
Any time your retainer isn’t in your mouth, place it in its case immediately. Do not wrap them in tissue paper or just put them in your pocket. This prevents accidental loss, damage, or mistaken disposal.
Carefully brush your retainer daily with a soft toothbrush and lukewarm water. Regular cleaning helps prevent buildup, odours, and discolouration.
Retainers are durable but not indestructible. Avoid bending, twisting, or dropping them, as this can affect how they fit and function.
It’s normal for speech to sound slightly different at first. Reading out loud for a few minutes daily helps your mouth adapt more quickly.
To ensure safety, avoid placing your retainers near hot water, hot cars, or household appliances. Pets are also known to chew them, so store them securely.
If your retainer feels uncomfortable, loose, or damaged, contact your orthodontic office. Trying to adjust it yourself can cause further problems.
Always bring your retainer to appointments so your provider can check the fit and ensure your smile stays properly aligned.
Our Doctors
Dr. Cheng Lun Wang
Specialty: Certified Specialist in Orthodontics
✓ Practicing since 1994
✓ Part-time clinical instructor at UBC Graduate Orthodontic program
✓ Dr. Wang also provides treatment for head pain and jaw pain
✓ Fluent in Mandarin
Dr. Kevin Lee
Specialty: Certified Specialist in Orthodontics
✓ Practicing since 2015
✓ Dr. Lee also provides treatment for Botox Cosmetic injections and Sleep Apnea oral appliance
✓ Fluent in Mandarin
Dr. Yan Liu
Specialty: Certified Specialist in Orthodontics
✓ Practicing since 2001
✓ Dr. Liu is an associate Professor at Peking University and UBC Graduate Orthodontic program.
✓ Fluent in Mandarin
Dr. Yashodhan Milind Bichu
Specialty: Certified Specialist in Orthodontics
✓ Practicing since 2016
✓ Dr. Yash has worked in Dubai and is experienced in providing lingual braces
✓ Fluent in Hindi/Urdu and conversational in Arabic and Punjabi.
