How to wear a mouth guard
In the first months after removing braces, it is often recommended to wear a mouth guard during the day, then switch to night mode. It is completely transparent and invisible, and can be easily removed for eating and brushing your teeth. You need to store it in a container and wash it only with cool water: hot water will deform the plastic. If the mouthguard no longer fits freely, the teeth have already begun to shift, and a visit to the orthodontist is needed.
Why retention is mandatory
After the braces are removed, the teeth tend to return to their previous position: the ligaments and bone tissue around them have not yet completely rebuilt. This process is called relapse, and without restraint devices it develops in most patients.
The retention period is not a formality, but a full-fledged part of orthodontic treatment. Its duration is usually no less than the period of wearing braces, and a retainer is often left on the lower incisors for many years.
Types of retention devices
- non-removable retainer - a thin wire glued to the inside of the teeth, works around the clock
- removable transparent mouthguard - put on at night, invisible and easy to remove
- removable plate with a plastic base - holds both the teeth and the shape of the dental arch
How to care
Plaque easily accumulates around a non-removable retainer, so you need dental floss with a guide, brushes or an irrigator, and professional hygiene every six months. Removable devices are cleaned with a brush and stored in a container - hot water will deform them.