Metal Mouth Message Board

I soak my Essix retainers all day about once a week in regular denture cleaner. Works well. The other days I rinse them in warm water and brush lightly using a toothbrush without toothpaste. I've read that the specially formulated retainer cleaners available here work the best.

I wear my retainers every night and my teeth haven't moved in four years. Just as important as keeping your teeth straight, good hygiene is essential to avoid cavities and gum disease. Since getting braces, I'm obsessive about brushing and flossing. I also avoid soft drinks and sugary snacks, which ...

I've had Essix retainers for four years that are still in good shape. I talked to someone at the ortho office who was on her 7th year with the same Essix retainers.

I had the same problem. Your ortho can trim the Essix retainer so it is more comfortable.

I had a couple of small gaps, noticed by my dentist, that were corrected by the orthodontist after my dentist phoned her about it. This is a concern that your dentist should have professionally addressed with the orthodontist. He/she should not have told you as something to tell your orthodontist. T...

Here are the standard wear times for retainers that I found when I was getting my braces off: 1-3 months - 24 hours/day 4-6 months - every night 7-12 months - wear every other night 13-18 months- 3 nights per week 19-24 months - 2 nights per week >24 months - approximately 3 hours per week (30 minut...

I used the Essix retainers for applying whitening gel (medium strength).It worked well. If I overfilled with gel, I got gum burn, so learned to put a smaller drop on each tooth position, with no further problems. Theoretically, you could get some streaking, but I had no problem with this. I've also ...

Once a week should be sufficient. That's what I've been doing ever since I got retainers by recommendation of my ortho.

Once a week should be sufficient. That's what I've been doing ever since I got retainers by recommendation of my ortho.

It cheered me to read that everything went so well with your debanding. Sounds like you have a wonderful orthodontist and ortho assistant who took care of you so well! Now you can go out there and show off your smile.

I've had the same set of plastic retainers for three years (the front desk person at the ortho office has had the same set for seven years). What I do is to rinse them well in cool water each morning, and if I have time clean them with a drop of liquid soap on a damp cotton swab. Because I wear them...

I wore my retainers 24/7 for 3 months, then nighttime only, every night ever since (now 3 years)

I understand your concerns and would express them to your ordondontist. I had a few concerns with my teeth when I was debanded (mostly functional rather than cosmetic issues) and let my doc know. She was able to address some things and what could not be fixed, she explained why it couldn't be change...

Another update: I'm one of the original members here and am glad to see that Archwired is still going strong and offering so much information and support to those in braces. I've been out of braces for three--count 'em--years now and wear my retainers every night. My teeth are still handsomely strai...

I just celebrated my one-year anniversary of being out of braces. I still wear Essix plastic retainers every night. My teeth are still in good shape and in the same good alignment. For anyone new to this, or unsure of the outcome, or frustrated by your progress, hang in there. Four years after I mad...