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Dental hygiene tips for healthy teeth & gums
Can I eat with retainers?
Braces are undoubtedly worth the effort and upkeep, as they work to fix your oral health issues to help you get a pretty smile. So, when the wires come off, the feeling of satisfaction is unmatched. Now, you can have the smile that you always wanted. But wait!
Your dentist puts you on a putty-like substance known as a retainer. What is the point of a retainer, you might ask? Retainers make sure that your smile stays beautiful.
What do retainers do?
Retainers can help with a lot things. They can:
- Stabilize the bite
- Align the jawbones with the gums
- Help teeth hold the position
- Prevent treatment reversal
- And much more
Retainers primarily keep your teeth in place after your braces have been removed. Retainers are often constructed of metal, plastic, acrylic, or polyurethane and are custom-fit to your new tooth position. This “tool” is powerful enough to keep your teeth from reverting to their previous positions. Finally, everything your braces originally fixed will remain fixed due to the retainer.
So, can I eat with retainers on?
No, you can’t eat while wearing retainers. Eating with a retainer isn’t a good idea. Even doctors insist on wearing retainers all of the time, except when eating or drinking. Before eating anything, you should always take out your retainer or clear aligner.Removing your retainer for meals and snacks will prevent it from getting soiled or damaged. With a permanent retainer, you shouldn’t eat too hard, chewy, or sticky foods since they can damage the wires and other parts, resulting in costly repairs and more dental work.
