Retainers for children: How to make your kids love wearing retainers

Many kids and teens who have worn braces for years often see their teeth shift back because they don't use their dental retainers correctly. After all the hard work to straighten their teeth, it's sad to see them lose their perfect smiles because they lost their retainer, forgot to wear it or just didn't understand how important it is to wear it consistently.

Retainers for children are much more user-friendly now than they used to be. Thanks to 3D scanning and 3D printing, these retainers fit perfectly on the teeth, making them comfortable and helping teeth stay in place longer. Let’s take a closer look at why proper retainer usage can greatly improve our children’s quality of life and oral health.

First, why wear retainers?

Simply put, retainers for teeth are commonly worn after a patient fully corrects their teeth by wearing braces. They can be seen as the final phase of treatment and often patients will need to wear retainers for the rest of their lives to maintain their teeth’s alignment.

Most dentists will require patients to wear retainers during sleep (7-8 hours a day). In some cases, the patient might need to wear retainers during the day for around a year after completing their orthodontic treatment.

The main job of a retainer is to stop your teeth from moving back to their old, crooked positions. By wearing your retainer as directed, you help keep your teeth straight and ensure that all the hard work with braces or Invisalign pays off, giving you a beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime.

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Why straighten teeth in the first place?

Leaving aside aesthetic concerns, there are many functional reasons why having straight teeth is good for our oral and overall health and well-being. Straighter teeth are much easier to clean and are less susceptible to cavities or plaque build-up. A correct bite is also very important in chewing food properly (especially crucial for younger kids). Having straight teeth and a correct bite may allow more saliva production, which reduces plaque build-up & the chance of developing cavities.

How do I get my kids into the habit of wearing a retainer?

Retainers are often thought to be a hassle and I see many of my younger patients unhappy that they need to wear them daily. Many kids who wear retainers throughout the day find that they are easy to misplace and find that removing them before meals can be a gross experience. However, wearing retainers doesn’t need to feel like a chore for your kids. With the right approach, you can make the experience positive and even enjoyable for them.

Here are some tips to help your kids love wearing their retainers:

1. If the retainer case is too small and easy to misplace, consider finding a better container for your child to carry along. It can be something like a pouch with their favourite cartoon emblazoned on it or a case in their favourite colour. Giving your child something larger and more colourful makes it much less likely for them to carelessly misplace their container.

2. You can try leaving a personalised, handwritten note in your child’s retainer box. Little things like these can make the experience fun and will serve as a reminder for your child to remember to place the retainer back into the box when they’re not wearing it.

3. Help your child build up the habit of keeping the box in their school bag or pockets when he or she needs to remove their retainers before meals. Also, keeping the retainer box in the same spot in their bedrooms will make it much harder to misplace.

4. For the younger children, giving them little incentives like small gifts for wearing their retainers properly at night can be encouraging and help them see the entire process of wearing retainers in a more positive light.
   

5. Talk to your child about why wearing their retainer is important. Understanding the long-term benefits can help them see the bigger picture. If your child experiences discomfort, consult the orthodontist.

6. Praise your child for their efforts. Positive reinforcement can boost their confidence and commitment to wearing the retainer.

7. Allow your child to choose the colour or design of their retainer. Some orthodontists offer retainers in various colours and patterns. Encourage your child to give their retainer a fun name, making it feel like a friendly companion. 

   

At the end of the day, it may take a while for your children to become accustomed to wearing their retainers and settling into good retainer habits but be patient and they will get there eventually. As with all good habits we try to inculcate into our children, they will be the ones thanking us in the future and it’ll be very rewarding to see their glowing, beautiful smiles when that day comes.

If you have any questions regarding retainer, feel free to reach out to us and we will get right back to you! 

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References

1. Kacer KA, Valiathan M, Narendran S, Hans MG. Retainer wear and compliance in the first 2 years after active orthodontic treatment. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2010 Nov;138(5):592-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2008.12.027. PMID: 21055599.
2. Doğramacı EJ, Rossi-Fedele G. The quality of information on the Internet on orthodontic retainer wear: a cross-sectional study. J Orthod. 2016 Mar;43(1):47-58. doi: 10.1080/14653125.2015.1114711. Epub 2016 Jan 11. PMID: 26751763.