Table of Contents
If you are prescribed retainers, you need to familiarize yourself with a small and compact case that comes along with them—the retainer case.
Don’t let the tiny size of this case fool you; it plays a crucial role in keeping your retainers safe and free from bacteria and germs.
Read this blog to find out how a small retainer case contributes to maintaining your oral health along with your retainer hygiene and how to clean and maintain your retainer case.
What Are Retainers?
When teeth undergo a straightening treatment with braces or aligners, they need to be held in their position for some time to ensure they don’t shift back. This period can fall within a range of 6 months to 2 years or more (in rare cases).
Retainers help “retain” teeth in their newly acquired positions and prevent treatment reversals, saving your investment in teeth straightening in terms of both money and time.
There generally are two types of retainers:
Hawley’s Retainers
These old-school retainers are made out of plastic or acrylic with a wire that attaches to its ends. This metal wire is quite noticeable across the teeth when worn, which is why these are becoming less popular in comparison to clear retainers.
Clear Retainers
These are similar to aligners or teeth-whitening trays. They are clear, custom-made, and can be removed easily for food and cleaning.
They can either be bought from your dentist or ordered at home from an online retainer provider following these three simple steps:
Place An Order
Choose a reputable brand for online retainer providers, such as ALIGNERCO, and place an order on their website.
Take Your Impressions
After placing your order, you will receive an impression kit at home. Take your dental impressions as per the instructions provided and send them back to your retainer provider.
Get Your Retainers
Upon receiving your impressions, your retainer provider will craft precise dental retainers based on your teeth impressions and send them to your provided address.
Now that we understand what retainers are, let’s take a look into why a set of clean retainers is important.
Why Is It Important To Keep Retainers Clean?
Shape Retention:
Custom retainers have a super precise shape, which allows them to fit snugly over teeth. If this shape is compromised due to an unclean retainer that has a buildup inside, it loses its efficacy.
Infection Risk:
Retainers go on your teeth and stay there for several consecutive hours (sometimes up to 22 hours). Imagine wearing a retainer on your teeth that were infected with bacteria and now will have the chance to multiply at speed, given the warm and moist environment of your mouth, leading to teeth and gum infections. This is why a clean retainer is integral for oral hygiene.
Prolong Life:
Taking the best care of your retainers keeps them in their ideal shape, ensuring that they last longer. If the retainers are soiled often, this will cause them to crack, stain, or chip.
Retainers work best when taken care of and kept clean; this is where the essential role of a retainer case comes in.
What Is A Retainer Case?
A retainer case is a designated box made out of sturdy plastic to store your retainers when not in use. It generally is designed to be small, compact, and easy to use.
An ideal retainer case, such as that of ALIGNERCO, is made from high-quality, BPA-free plastic that is both durable and easy to clean.
It has a secure snap closure that ensures that retainers are kept safe from damage, while its vented design allows for proper airflow to dry them and prevent the buildup of bacteria and other contaminants that thrive in moist environments.
Importance Of A Retainer Case
Here’s a list of reasons why you should never forget your retainer case when using retainers.
Assigned Place
A retainer cover provides a designated place for your retainers. You don’t have to search your pockets, purse, car, or drawers when looking for them.
Just as a cupboard helps us organize items by providing an assigned place for items, this is what a retainer case does for retainers.
Secondly, retainers should be removed before eating and drinking anything other than water. When removed temporarily and stored in a case, they stay protected and at hand for the next use. The retainer case is also ideal for storing an extra pair when traveling, in case one is lost or damaged.
Protection
A retainer case provides two safety features. First, it protects your retainers from contaminants such as dirt or bacteria.
Second is that it protects your retainers from potential physical damage such as scratches, cracks, bends, or stains that may come from the environment when retainers are exposed to it directly or from falls and accidents.
Cost
Missing a few days of retainers can set you back months, especially right after the time you are off your teeth straightening treatment.
Imagine getting your retainers cracked by a fall during this period and having to order a fresh pair, which may take weeks. A case not only saves you the cost and waiting time of reordering new ones but also the potential cost of undergoing your treatment again.
How To Clean Your Retainer Case
Follow these methods to clean your case properly:
- Rinse your retainer case every day or more if needed with plain tap water. You can use a soft-tooth brush to clean the corners.
- Every once in a while, use toothpaste, denture cleaner, or a dental tray cleaner to thoroughly clean your retainer case.
- Let your case air dry completely before storing it away.
Best Practices
Follow these best practices for your custom retainers and their case to ensure optimal oral hygiene:
- Never wear unclean retainers; always rinse them before wearing them.
- Wear retainers on clean teeth, preferably brushed.
- Check your retainers and case for cracks or scratches.
- Replace them periodically, at least every six months.
- Never expose your retainers or their case to extreme heat.
- Avoid placing them in direct sunlight for long hours.
A retainer case is essential to keep your retainers safe and consequently, your teeth protected. Take care of it using the right practices and replace it when needed to get the best out of your teeth-retaining experience.
FAQs
1. I lost my retainer case; what to do?
You can order a new one online. Meanwhile, find a similar small container or acrylic box to store your retainers when not in use. Leaving your retainers without a case can expose them to dust and contaminants.
2. What if I forget my retainer case? Where should I keep my retainers?
Try to wear your retainers until you can find the case. If you have to take them off for eating, etc, wrap them loosely in tissue or napkins and store them safely.
3. My retainer case is stained. How to clean it?
Use a dental tray cleaner, soap, or toothpaste to wash them. A stained retainer case can transfer those stains to your retainers, leading them to lose their clarity when worn. If the stains can’t be removed, replace the retainer case.
4. What else can I use as a retainer case?
If you have lost your retainer case, use any hard BPA-free plastic box with a secure closure to keep your retainers until your new case arrives.
