Smile Point Dental Victoria

4109 Houston Highway, Suite 200, Victoria, TX 77901
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Month: August 2022

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Dental care

Which is better, braces or retainer?

Which is better, braces or retainer?

Braces and retainers both are orthodontic tools and serve different purposes. You can not use one in exchange for another.

Braces are used for correcting various dental issues like crossbite, misalignment, uneven positioning, or crowding between the teeth. Braces are effective in correcting serious dental issues that are causing problems with your smile.

Retainers, on the other hand, are used to prevent any dental relapse. Retainers are used after the braces. Once you are done with braces, you have to wear retainers. Retainers help teeth to stay in their new position. They prevent teeth from shifting back.

Once braces have corrected the posting or alignment of your teeth, braces keep them in their new position so that you can maintain a beautiful smile all your life. Both retainers and braces are equally important in teeth straightening treatment; you can complete the treatment if you skip any of them.

How do brace and retainers work?

To know which one is better, you must understand how they both work:

Braces:

  • Braces apply pressure on your teeth and shift them to their new position over time.
  • Braces can also rotate or move your teeth accordingly in severe dental impressions.
  • Braces also cause the bone under your teeth to change shape.
  • Braces are made up of small wires and brackets that are fixed in the front of each tooth.

Retainers:

  • Retainers hold the teeth in their new position after braces have corrected or straightened them.
  • Retainers are made up of either metal, plastic, or acrylic.
  • Retainers run at the back of your teeth; they are not as visible as braces.
  • Retainers are fixed on the upper or lower teeth.
  • Retrainers can not only correct serious dental imperfections.
  • There are two types of retainers: permanent and removable.

These were some of the traits of retainers and braces. Hope it will help you decide which one is better. Furthermore, make sure to consult your dentist if you face any issues with your retainers.

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Dental care

Should I brush my retainer with toothpaste?

After you have finished your orthodontic treatment, it is time for you to wear retainers. Retainers are a vital dental tool that ensures you can flaunt your prominent and straight smile lifelong. But to ensure your retainers can work effectively in holding your teeth back, you must clean them properly.

There are various ways of cleaning your retainers properly at home, but you must have the proper knowledge and tools to clean them so they can stay new and you do not have to replace them before time.

There are a few things to keep in mind while cleaning your retainers. If you are new to retainers or are too young to clean your retainers, you should always take help from someone older. You can use any harsh toothpaste or abrasive to clean your retainers as they can scratch them, decreasing their quality.

On the other hand, you should not soak your retainers in hot water or any chemical or alcohol rubbing solutions as these chemicals can melt or destroy your retainers. Using any kind of mouthwash to clean your retainers can tear them off and harm your teeth’ progress.

Here are tips to keep in mind to keep your retainers as good as new

Following these tips will help you increase the life of your retainers:

  • Keep your retainers in the box after you take them out; do not keep them open.
  • Wash your retainers with lukewarm water after every meal.
  • Make sure to remove your retainers while drinking or eating extremely hot or cold foods.
  • Do not use a hard bristle brush to clean your retainers.
  • Make sure you do not eat any artificial coloring foods as they can harm the quality of your retainers.

Lastly, if you experience any issues with your retainers, make sure to visit your dentist for proper treatment.

Categories
Dental care

How long do plastic retainers last?

There are different types of retainers in the market. Mainly there are three types of retainers: removable wire retainers, removable plastic retainers, and bonded permanent retainers. Retainers are given to hold your teeth in the palace so that you can have a straight smile for life. 

Various factors contribute to the fact of how long your retainers would last. In particular, plastic retainers can last for 4-5 years if you take proper care of them. Understanding that your oral hygiene routine plays a key role in keeping your retainers up-to-date is vital. 

Plastic retainers are custom-made, just like your Invisalign. They are more delicate and require daily care to prevent them from damage. Apart from oral hygiene, the fitting of your retainers also determines how long they will last.

If you cannot floss your teeth properly due to the fitting of your retainers, it can reduce the span of your retainers to up to 2 years. Moreover, you can not wear one retainer for life no matter how much good care you take of them; it is necessary to replace them after 3-5 years.

Steps to follow to keep your retainers in good condition

Here are a few steps that you can follow so that your plastic retainers last long:

  • Floss and brush your teeth properly to avoid plaque build-up in your teeth and retainers.
  • Visit your dentist for your weekly oral checkups to ensure there are no signs of bad teeth and retainer damage. 
  • Do not wear retainers while drinking or eating any food.
  • In the case of removable plastic retainers, do not keep your retainers outside of your case when you are not wearing them.
  • Stay away from hot drinks as they can wrap your retainers which can affect their fitting, and eventually, you have to replace them before time.

Lastly, make sure to visit your dentist for proper treatment in case facing any trouble with your retainers.