Is it possible to choke on your retainer

This helps the doctor determine if the retainer is still a good fit for you. Place it on a bedside table or in a tissue or napkin. This dries out the retainer, plus it makes it super easy to throw it away by accident.

Leave the device in your pocket without securing it inside its container. Leave it exposed outside its case for hours. Boil the retainer or sterilize it with alcohol. You can damage the structure.

Skip nights. Even one or two nights without wearing your retainer can cause slight shifting. Flip them or play with them using your tongue. It could get lost, or if you have pets your dog will likely try to chew on it — they are attracted to the smell of the retainer. Method 2. Brush your retainer. You can and should brush your retainer every day, just as you brush your teeth.

In fact, when you brush your teeth might be the ideal time to also brush your retainer. This will help keep your retainer clean and your breath smelling fresh. Remove your retainer from your mouth. Rinse it under cool water from the faucet. Add a pea-sized drop of toothpaste to your toothbrush and gently scrub away the built-up plaque and tartar. Rinse the retainer thoroughly, then either pop it back in your mouth, let it soak, or place it in your case.

Soak your retainer to keep it clean. In addition to brushing your retainer, it's generally a good idea to soak your retainer in some type of safe cleaner. Many orthodontists recommend using mouthwash or denture-cleaning tablets for soaking retainers; however, some orthodontists advise against these cleaning agents, as they contain chemicals like persulfate and alcohol that can damage your retainer and cause problems in your mouth. Simply mix two teaspoons into a small bowl of fresh, cool water and soak your retainer in that mixture.

Take steps to avoid letting your retainer dry out. You may not realize it, but your retainer can dry out very easily. It's made to exist in your mouth, which is a consistently wet environment. Whenever you're not wearing it, your retainer should be soaking in water so that the plastic does not become damaged and dried out. Distilled water works best, as there will not be any harsh chemicals or pH imbalances to damage your retainer.

Always use cool or room-temperature water. Hot water can damage the plastic on your retainer, and should always be avoided. Method 3. Follow your orthodontist's recommendations. You will most likely receive special cleaning instructions, as well as details on what foods you can and can't eat. Most fixed retainers are worn full time for approximately five years; however, some may be kept on for life, depending on your teeth and your orthodontist's recommendations.

Avoid foods that might damage your retainer. Because fixed retainers are bonded to your teeth, there are certain food restrictions you'll need to follow in order to avoid damaging your retainer.

These restrictions are generally the same as those applied to braces. Do not eat caramel, hard candy, or gum. These foods can get stuck to your wires and cause damage.

Use floss threaders to floss around your teeth and retainer. You'll use this threader to feed regular dental floss between your teeth and around your wires.

Start with approximately 18 inches of regular waxed dental floss. Slip one end of the dental floss through the floss threader and pull it until the threader is roughly in the middle of the floss.

Hold the threader up close against your teeth in the spot you're about to floss. Aim the threader slightly downward for your bottom teeth and slightly upward for your top teeth. Reach into your mouth and carefully pull the threader through, then use the floss strand to floss like normal around your gums and under your retainer wire. Take good care when cleaning in between teeth and try not to use hard toothpicks, as you may damage the fixed retainer.

Since your teeth can still shift years after orthodontic treatment, it is vital to consistently wear your retainer. Stomach acid has a pH of 2. It is very acidic and will slowly dissolve your teeth as dental enamel begins to dissolve at 5. After you eat, it takes about six to eight hours for food to pass through your stomach and small intestine. Food then enters your large intestine colon for further digestion, absorption of water and, finally, elimination of undigested food.

It takes about 36 hours for food to move through the entire colon. An abscessed tooth can also cause a face and jaw infection which can restrict airways. It takes months for the new alignments of your teeth to become permanent. This maintenance of alignment is called retention. Retainers can be very annoying to some and can cause gagging in others.

But when compared to going through wearing braces all over again, it is a tiny inconvenience. There are 2 types of retainers: removable and permanent.

Your orthodontist will help you choose the type that is best for you. The type you will need is based on why you need braces and any other condition you may have.

You can have either type of retainer for your teeth. You may receive a removable one for the top teeth and a fixed one for the bottom teeth. A dislodged retainer can cause choking sometimes. During eating and activities like sports and swimming it is best to put your retainer in its case.

Retainers are a critical part of your orthodontic treatment. Retainers are considered a part of your braces treatment and help you preserve your investment in orthodontic treatment. Following the tips mentioned in this article can help you with your gag reflex considerably.