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A Fixed Retainer Requires Some Routine Care and Cleaning

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Now that you have achieved your ideal smile, your orthodontist, Dr. Jaime Rivera, can remove your braces. However, you will still need to use a retainer to help your teeth maintain their new positions. There some residual tension in the periodontal ligaments that are anchoring your teeth in your mouth. This tension has the potential to pull your teeth out of alignment.

If your top or bottom front teeth needed a significant amount of adjustment, Dr. Jaime Rivera might recommend installing a fixed retainer. This retainer is a sturdy metal band that is cemented behind your teeth to hold your teeth in place. You should expect to have the fixed retainer for the rest of your life.

A fixed retainer is non-removable and it can sometimes make cleaning challenging. To help brush away plaque and food particles from hard-to-reach places, you might want to try using interdental brushes. The narrow-angled heads can help clean those places.

If you find that flossing between the teeth and around the gumline is challenging, you might want to use a floss threader with waxed floss. The wax coating also helps the strand of floss slip into place easier.

If you have questions about the best way to clean your fixed retainer in El Paso, Texas, you can call Rivera Orthodontics at 915-592-5853 to seek further advice. Â