Patient Instructions · Retainers
Caring for your retainers.
Watch Dr. Giannetti's video, or follow the written steps below it — they cover the same instructions. Questions at any point? Call our office and we'll walk you through it.
Patient Video · After Treatment
Caring For Your Retainers
With Dr. Kelly Giannetti, DMD, MPH, MS · Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics
Why retainers matter — for life
- Teeth naturally want to shift over time — whether you've had braces or not, teeth continue to move as we age. Wearing your retainers is what maintains your smile long-term.
- If your retainer ever feels tight, uncomfortable, or stops fitting, contact our office right away. A quick adjustment or a new retainer early beats re-treatment later.
For Phase 1 (early treatment) patients
- Your retainer holds the changes from Phase 1 while baby teeth fall out and permanent teeth come in. It has special cutouts to accommodate those changes.
- It may begin to fit differently as teeth change — that's expected, but if it stops fitting properly, contact us and we'll adjust it or make a new one.
- Phase 1 retainers aren't meant to last a lifetime. They bridge you to Phase 2, and we'll guide you on when Phase 2 should begin.
Dental work & wisdom teeth
- Tell us about any dental work after treatment. If a procedure changes the shape or position of a tooth, your retainer may no longer fit — you'll need a new scan within a few days, ideally the same day, to prevent tooth movement.
- After wisdom teeth removal, teeth shift quickly due to inflammation and swelling. You may leave the retainers out the first night if needed, but resume nightly wear the very next day. If you can't wear them after surgery, call us as soon as possible.
Cleaning your retainers
- Brush them gently with a toothbrush and cold water every time you take them out. Never let saliva dry on the retainer.
- Dawn dish soap is a gentle way to remove buildup.
- A white vinegar soak plus your toothbrush helps remove tartar deposits.
Always
- Store retainers in their protective case when not in your mouth
- Rinse and brush with cold water
- Keep them away from dogs and small children — pets love chewing retainers
- Call us immediately if a retainer is lost, cracked, or warped
Never
- Boil your retainer or put it in the dishwasher
- Leave it in hot places — car dashboards and window sills warp retainers fast in the valley heat
- Wrap it in a napkin or drop it loose in a pocket or lunch bag — that's how retainers get lost
If a retainer is lost or damaged
- Call us immediately. Teeth can begin shifting surprisingly fast, so quick replacement protects your result.
- Ask about our Smile Protection Plan. It includes an additional set of clear in-house retainers — two sets when your braces come off — to protect your investment and reduce replacement costs.
Read the full video summary
Dr. Giannetti congratulates patients on completing treatment and explains why retention matters: teeth naturally shift throughout life, so retainer wear is what protects the result. She covers Phase 1 retainers (special cutouts for erupting teeth, designed to bridge to Phase 2), what to do when dental work changes a tooth's shape (new scan within days, ideally same-day), and wisdom-teeth surgery (skip the first night only if needed, resume nightly wear immediately after). Cleaning instructions: brush gently with cold water at every removal, Dawn dish soap for buildup, white vinegar soaks for tartar — and never boil, dishwasher, or leave retainers in hot cars or on window sills. Retainers should live in their case, away from pets and small children. If one is lost, cracked, or warped, call immediately — teeth shift fast — and the Smile Protection Plan includes a second set of clear in-house retainers when braces come off. Retention is lifelong.
Questions about your braces or retainers?
We're here to help.
Broken bracket, poking wire, retainer that doesn't fit — call our office and we'll get you taken care of.