A retention period will be required after your braces have been removed. This often involves the use of a removable retainer, like a Hawley retainer, to help hold your teeth in place while any lingering tension in the periodontal ligaments abates. If either set of your front teeth needed significant realignment, your orthodontist, Dr. Chris Trockel, might recommend fitting you for a fixed retainer.
A fixed retainer in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a shaped band of metal that Dr. Chris Trockel cements behind the teeth with a strong dental adhesive. This will secure the teeth in place while they fully adapt to their new positions. Since it cannot be removed, your fixed retainer will need special focus in your oral hygiene routine.
To help you clean hard-to-reach places, Dr. Chris Trockel might recommend using some special oral hygiene tools.
An interdental brush is a special type of miniature toothbrush with a tapered, angled head. It can help clean away plaque and residual food particles from around the fixed retainer. A floss threader that has been loaded with waxed dental floss can also be a handy tool. Its loop-shaped design helps insert the strand beneath the fixed retainer, allowing you to floss between those teeth and clean around the gumline.
You could also try using an oral irrigator jet to clear away stuck-on food particles in the contours of teeth. Just keep in mind that this improves the effectiveness of your toothbrush. It cannot effectively replace flossing for removing plaque and food particles from between teeth and along the gumline.
When you’re done brushing and flossing all your teeth, you might also want to rinse vigorously with antiseptic mouthwash. This will help kill bacteria while washing away loosened food particles.
If you have questions or concerns about how to clean and maintain your new fixed retainer, you can always call 918-364-2222 to speak to someone at True Smile Orthodontics.