Thanks to the iterative adjustments at True Smile Orthodontics, your braces have brought your teeth into their ideal alignment. Once all the orthodontic hardware has been removed, there will still be a modest amount of tension in your dental sockets. If it’s not counteracted, it could cause your teeth to gradually drift out of their new positions.
If you had an area of your smile where several teeth needed significant realignment by braces, Dr. Chris Trockel might recommend a fixed retainer. This is most commonly used for lower front teeth that needed significant realignment with braces. This is essentially a sturdy metal band that will be cemented in place behind your teeth with a strong dental adhesive.
Since it can’t be removed, you will need to give it specific focus in your daily oral hygiene routine. If you’ve struggling to effectively brush and floss around the fixed retainer, there are some special oral hygiene tools you might want to use.
An interdental brush has a small, tapered head that helps clean away food material and plaque from hard-to-reach places around the fixed retainer.
If you find it difficult to floss between your teeth and around the fixed retainer, you might want to try using a floss threader with waxed dental floss. The wax coating also helps the strand of floss slip into place easier.
An oral irrigator like Waterpik® can help clean food debris from the gumline and other hard-to-reach places around the fixed retainer. Just keep in mind that the concentrated stream of water cannot effectively replace flossing for removing food and plaque from between teeth and the gumline.
If you have questions about the best way to clean and maintain your fixed retainer, you can always call 918-364-2222 to speak with a staff member at True Smile Orthodontics.