{"id":190,"date":"2022-06-04T03:22:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-04T03:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hartorthosmiles.com\/blog\/?p=190"},"modified":"2022-07-29T03:22:48","modified_gmt":"2022-07-29T03:22:48","slug":"how-often-should-i-replace-my-retainer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hartorthosmiles.com\/blog\/2022\/06\/04\/how-often-should-i-replace-my-retainer\/","title":{"rendered":"How Often Should I Replace My Retainer?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hartorthosmiles.com\/blog\/2022\/06\/04\/how-often-should-i-replace-my-retainer\/\" class=\"block-image-link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hartorthosmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/AdobeStock_291884348__1659064745_63942-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-192\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hartorthosmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/AdobeStock_291884348__1659064745_63942-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hartorthosmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/AdobeStock_291884348__1659064745_63942-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hartorthosmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/AdobeStock_291884348__1659064745_63942.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s nothing better than taking a look in the mirror at your new-and-improved smile after months or years of wearing braces. Even better, now you get to go back to your normal oral hygiene routine, eat what you please, and, of course, show everyone your new grin. However, your teeth will only stay in their perfectly aligned positions if you wear your retainer consistently. With proper care, it should last 5-7 years. You\u2019ll know when it\u2019s time to get a replacement by remembering the following telltale signs according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hartorthosmiles.com\/adult-orthodontics.html\">your orthodontist in Cleburne<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Signs It\u2019s Time to Replace Your Retainer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Talk to your dentist about getting a replacement sooner than 5-7 years if you notice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>There are cracks<\/strong> \u2013 Cracks of any kind can compromise its structure and leave you vulnerable to a dental injury.<\/li><li><strong>It doesn\u2019t fit well<\/strong> \u2013 To keep your teeth in their perfectly aligned positions, the retainer can\u2019t be too loose or too tight.<\/li><li><strong>There\u2019s calcium buildup<\/strong> \u2013 Calcium buildup is normal, but it can prevent you from wanting to wear it. So, it\u2019s a good idea to get a new one from your orthodontist at that time.<\/li><li><strong>It smells bad<\/strong> \u2013 If you don\u2019t clean your retainer regularly, it can take on an unpleasant odor, making your breath smell bad when you wear it. Since this will likely deter you from wearing it consistently, get a replacement.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Keep Your Retainer in Pristine Condition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In previous decades, patients were asked to wear their retainer for only a year or two. However, the rates of orthodontic relapse suggest it should be worn for much longer, ideally a lifetime. To avoid needing to replace your retainer every other year, make sure to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Clean it with a soft-bristled toothbrush each morning and evening.<\/li><li>Soak it weekly in a dentist-recommended cleaner.<\/li><li>Never use hot water or a household item like bleach to clean it.<\/li><li>Store it in a protective case when it\u2019s not in your mouth.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Ultimately, you need to replace your retainer when you recognize its condition has deteriorated in some way. If any of the aforementioned signs have surfaced, like calcium buildup, then get in touch with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hartorthosmiles.com\/why-choose-us.html\">your orthodontist in Cleburne<\/a> today to ask for a replacement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hartorthosmiles.com\/meet-your-orthodontist.html\">Dr. James Hart<\/a> earned his dental doctorate from Baylor College of Dentistry. During an orthodontic residency, he graduated top of his class with a Master of Science from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Dr. Hart has strived to provide top-tier orthodontic care for more than four decades. If you or your child need a retainer, Dr. Hart can help since it is an important part of maintaining a straight and beautiful smile. Schedule an appointment on his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hartorthosmiles.com\/contact-us.html\">website<\/a> or call (817) 645-2432.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There\u2019s nothing better than taking a look in the mirror at your new-and-improved smile after months or years of wearing braces. Even better, now you get to go back to your normal oral hygiene routine, eat what you please, and, of course, show everyone your new grin. However, your teeth will only stay in their perfectly aligned positions if you wear your retainer consistently. With proper care, it should last 5-7 years. You\u2019ll know when it\u2019s time to get a replacement by remembering the following telltale signs according to your orthodontist in Cleburne! <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hartorthosmiles.com\/blog\/2022\/06\/04\/how-often-should-i-replace-my-retainer\/\">(Read More)<\/a>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-190","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How Often Should I Replace My Retainer | Hart Orthodontics<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Wearing your retainer should be a lifelong best practice, but how do you know when you need to replace it? Here\u2019s the answer!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hartorthosmiles.com\/blog\/2022\/06\/04\/how-often-should-i-replace-my-retainer\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Often Should I Replace My Retainer | Hart Orthodontics\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Wearing your retainer should be a lifelong best practice, but how do you know when you need to replace it? 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