Retainer Instructions

Retainer Instructions

After your braces are removed, Dr. Knowles will fit you with a retainer. Retainers help to maintain the positions of your teeth, preventing any shifting after your braces are removed. We invite you to call Smile at the World at (254) 773-8028 to learn more about retainers in Temple, Texas, and schedule your appointment with our experienced orthodontist.

Our orthodontist will give you several instructions on properly wearing and caring for your retainer. For your convenience, we have also included those instructions on this page.

If you have any questions about retainers, please call our office to speak with a member of our team, and to schedule your next appointment with our orthodontist.

  • How long should I wear my retainer?

    Wear your retainers full time, until the doctor instructs otherwise.

  • Can I eat with my retainer?

    Take your retainers out when eating, and put them in a case.

  • Where do I put my retainer when I'm eating?

    When retainers are not in your mouth, they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case.

  • How often should I clean my retainer?

    Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque, and eliminates odors. You may also use denture cleaner to clean your retainers.

  • Does heat affect my retainer?

    Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine, dishwasher, bleach, and napkins.

  • Do retainers break easy?

    Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken call us immediately.

  • What if my retainer needs adjusting?

    If you have any questions or concerns about your retainers, or if your retainers need adjusting, call us. Do not try to adjust them yourself.

  • Do I need to bring my retainer to my appointments?

    Always bring your retainers to your appointments.

  • Can I swim with my retainer?

    Remove retainers when swimming.