How has your routine changed living with retainers...

[SunshineRay]

Speaking of.....I am only 3 weeks into having my essix retainer and feel like its cloudy and scratched already. I didnt know until last week that you werent supposed to brush it with toothpaste and I have been. They say that causes scratches.

[TreadLightly]

I have had braces off for 8 months so my routine has changed in the last few weeks than what it was immediately after getting my braces off.

My ortho told me to wear my retainers only during the night so I did that.
He also stated I should brush it with toothpaste, and if that stops working then use dish soap and a harder scrubber. This really left them with a lot of residue that i just couldn't take off because of all the scratches.

I recently broke my top retainer though and I had to buy a new one. So with my new top retainer I only wash it by rinsing it whenever it's not in my mouth and LIGHTLY brushing it with an ora brush (softest bristles I have in my house). After about 3 weeks I've noticed that doing less is more with keeping my retainers clean. I just have to be careful not to clean it too aggressively. Live and learn right?

Also having retainers have increased my oral hygiene. Since I want to keep them clean I feel extra infinitive to brush my teeth often staying on top of it. So besides the poor initial advice, having retainers has boosted my overall sense of oral hygiene.

[TMJJill]

I've had my Essix retainers about 11 months now. They told me I could brush with toothpaste. I did in the beginning. After the first month, I changed to nighttime only. Typically I just rinse well and then soak in Retainer Brite. That has worked well for me to help keep them clean and newer looking.

[mapleleafman888]

As much as I love not having braces, the retainer is much more hassle. I don't mind wearing it, but I hate taking it out. Not sure if it's me but when I do, there's a gross taste/smell, especially after overnight wear. I just feel like my teeth are going to slowly decay and I'm going to get a ton of cavities. I brush and rinse every time I remove them and diligently keep them and my teeth clean. I really wish my ortho did hawley's...I'd be much less paranoid. I'm tempted to ask and pay for them because these are just the worst invention ever. Lets give someone with newly aligned, perfect teeth, a retainer which stores bacteria and gives them tooth decay!

I will be getting these clear retainers as well---your last sentence just hit it right on. What a silly invention indeed. I'm wondering if maybe they could put little tiny holes in the bottom so the saliva drains out better. Anyways. Good insight!

[Snowglobe32]

I used Denta Soak in the beginning but now I just use Efferdent due to the cost. Efferdent has a a great product now called Fresh Guard but my ortho said any denture cleanser would work. It cleans the bacteria well and really makes a difference vs just using toothpaste alone, plus it won't scratch your retainer like a toothbrush can. Efferdent is really cheap compared to the other stuff you can buy. I bought a box with 32 tablets for less than $4.00 at Walmart.

I soak them while I get ready in the morning then rinse very well.

As long as your teeth are clean before you put your retainer in, meaning, you have brushed, flossed (and maybe used the waterpik), your teeth will be ok. If you aren't good with your hygiene routine you may get cavities.

As for Essix vs Hawley's...my ortho stopped using Hawley's because he preferred having the teeth surrounded with the retainer vs just the wire...I have never had an Hawley so I am not sure what they are like but I would assume the essix is much more comfortable...does the Hawley have something that sits on the roof of your mouth?

[kathydell]

The adjustment to the Essix retainer was far worse for me than the braces ever were! I got used to it after about a week though and now I feel naked without them. As far as keeping them clean, I've had really good luck with a soak that's made for Essix retainers, Invisalign type appliances and plastic sports mouth guards. My ortho also said whenever you brush your teeth brush your retainers. That works really well at keep them fresh all day and not feeling like I have bad breath. It's been good for my diet as taking them off, eating, brushing and putting them back on is sometimes far too much work for that afternoon cookie!

[Verena]

But can you actually talk well or do you have a lisp? This would be very annoying...

[SunshineRay]

You have the lisp for a bit, just like when you first got braces. I've had my Essix 2 months now and have adjusted to it but still think it was easier to have braces. I am a 'sipper' and would drink through a straw with braces. With the Essix you can only drink water or you have to take it out. Thats been my hardest thing.

[samoorelaw]

I guess I'm in the minority when I say that life in retainers is MUCH easier than life in braces. I drink whatever I want in my Hawley retainers and get to take them off when I eat! How awesome is THAT? The only thing that blows about my current situation is that I am wearing elastics on my back molars on both sides, so I still have 4 brackets on my teeth. Notwithstanding this, the retainers are no hassle at all. The only issue I have with cleaning mine daily with Retainer Brite is I still have white plaque buildup on just my lower retainer (weird) so I'm going to be trying DentaSoak in the hope that it is stronger and will remove the plaque.