Dark-haired man points to his straight teeth after orthodontic treatment in Weatherford, TX

How to Maintain Your Straight Smile After Orthodontic Treatment

October 27, 2020 5:49 pm

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of finishing your orthodontic treatment! After all your hard work, you finally have a healthier and straighter smile. But to keep it that way, you need to properly take care of your teeth.

Here are some tips on how to keep a straight smile after your orthodontic treatment.

Wear Your Retainer

You’ve spent a long time getting a straight smile. Don’t turn back the clock by not wearing your retainer! Retainers help prevent your teeth from shifting back to their original positions.

Removable retainers need daily cleaning to remove debris that could lead to decay and discoloration. When not wearing your retainer, keep it safely tucked away in its case to protect it from bacteria, breakage, and loss. Regularly evaluate its condition and let us know if it needs replacing.

A fixed retainer is a wire that is permanently attached to the back of your teeth. It requires a bit more meticulous cleaning during your oral hygiene routine, but you also don’t have to worry about losing it or forgetting to wear it.

Keep Up with Routine Dental Appointments

Routine dental appointments are essential to ensure that you have a healthy smile. Checkups and cleanings every six months will help prevent dental issues, such as decay, cavities, discoloration, bad breath, and gum disease.

Maintain Daily Oral Hygiene

Daily cleaning your teeth and gums will keep them healthy and strong, which means you’re less likely to suffer from dental disease and tooth loss! Fortunately, straighter teeth will make it easier than ever to clean your teeth. There’s no crowding that makes brushing and flossing harder.

Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time to remove plaque and food particles. Daily floss with a water flosser, string floss, or combination to clean between your teeth and under your gumline.

Need Orthodontic Treatment Again?

Our team wants each of our patients to feel confident about the appearance and function of their smile. If you had braces as a child or teenager but your teeth have shifted as an adult, Meason Orthodontics is here to help. We offer a variety of orthodontic solutions for adults and would be thrilled to answer all your questions about embarking on your second orthodontic journey.

Categorised in: Orthodontic Tips