How To Prevent Clear Essix Retainer From Breaking

Clear Essix style retainers are fragile and can crack when not cared for properly.  With proper care retainers can last many years. Here is a list of steps that can help prolong the life span of your dental retainers.

1. Removing: When removing your retainers, use both hands and pull the retainers off the teeth. When the retainers twist they can break.

2. Cleaning: When cleaning your retainers you want to cup them in one hand and clean with with a soft bristle tooth brush with the other hand.  You do not want to brush them too hard. Soaking the retainers in Fresh Guard will make cleaning the retainers easier.

3. Make: Creation of the retainers is also important to the strength of the retainers. If you are missing a tooth or have a gap, it is a weak point on the retainers. You want to make sure that your retainers are made from a dental lab that is very familiar with the creation of Essix retainers.

Essix Plus Dental Retainers

4. Material: Until recently there was only one type of material when making retainers. This was the standard Essix ACE 1mm material. Essix now introduced their Essix Plus material. Essix Plus retainers are the same thickness as standard retainers but are crystal clear and more durable than standard Essix  retainers. You still have to be careful, but they are less prone to breakage.

Please visit SportingSmiles.com for more information on replacement dental retainers.