Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi,
Yesterday I has my braces removed and upper and lower essix retainers fitted.
In total my treatment lasted 2 years and 6 months and involved upper and lower jaw surgery also. Its been quite the experience! Overall I'm happy with the result. Not ecstatic but I think my surgeon and orthodontist did a pretty good job.

Now I'm adjusting to life in retainers. I've been told 24/7 for 6 months and nightly thereafter. Is it a bit annoying not being able to bite with them in but I'll get used to it.
So my question is to all beer drinkers male and female, do you remove retainers when you go for a beer? A night out could last 3 or 4 hours and I don't like the idea of leaving them out for that amount of time. If you kept them in while drinking but cleaned them carefully afterwards would it be so bad?
Any replies appreciated.
Thanks,
Tony

Hello

Personally, I wouldn't drink anything except water with my Essix in, I don't like the idea of having something sugary trapped between the retainer and my teeth. I do share your problem though, currently the longest I've left my retainers out for is 3 hours and it's pretty tight to get the top back in even after that short amount of time. Only feels tight for about a minute though.

Here are some other opinions on beer drinking in retainers

http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/brac ... ainer.html

Use a straw!

I wouldn't let anything get in the way of a few cold ones so I say drink up and leave that retainer in place. You won't have to sacrifice time in your appliance (or forgetting to put it back in, in case you stumble off to bed without it) and as long as you're diligent about flossing and brushing before bed on most nights, no harm done.

Cheers!

I'd think that if you went to the washroom every so often in between beer and swished some water around your mouth/retainer you'd be okay till you got home to do to total brush and rinse. Just avoid all the delicious pub snacks that are always around!

Kymberlee wrote:I wouldn't let anything get in the way of a few cold ones so I say drink up and leave that retainer in place. You won't have to sacrifice time in your appliance (or forgetting to put it back in, in case you stumble off to bed without it) and as long as you're diligent about flossing and brushing before bed on most nights, no harm done.

Cheers!

I don't think I am going to take mine out either. Maybe I will try the straw. I have been doing it with coffee. I sure would like to here more on this. Especially from Dr. Rick????

This might be a UK thing but i'd get seriously funny looks drinking a pint of beer with a straw...