Retainers are important to keep your teeth in place and protect them from moving back to their previous position. It is vital to wear your retainers after you are done with your Invisalign treatment. The main job of the retainers is to keep your teeth stable. There are two types of retainers; mainly, retainers are made from plastic, metal or acrylic.

Though the retainers are strong enough to keep your teeth in place and give you a beautiful smile for life, it is important to follow an oral hygiene routine to make sure the retainers work properly. Just like with braces, retainers also need precautions, and you must follow some oral hygiene tips to ensure your progress with your teeth is not harmed.

Whether your dentist gives you plastic or a metal retainer, you must brush your teeth before putting them back in your mouth. It is to ensure there is no food debris or plaque buildup between them. There are various reasons to brush your teeth before putting your retainers back in your mouth. The main reason is it will increase the life of your retainer, and you do not have to replace it before time.

Why should you brush your teeth before wearing retainers?

Like with aligners, there are some do’s that you should follow with retainers as well:

• Brushing your teeth before wearing your aligners will prevent bad breath.
• Your retainers will not be stained from the food between your teeth if you brush them before wearing the retainers.
• Brushing your teeth before wearing retainers will keep your retainers free from plaque buildup.
• Brushing your teeth before putting your retainers back will prevent cavities.

Lastly, if you experience any issues with your retainers, you must visit your dentist for a detailed check-up.