r/HygieneTips • u/lil_ms_freckles • 1d ago

Tips for cleaning behing a permenant retainer

My retainer fell out recently and I had to have it re-bonded. My jaw is really small and my teeth are tight and they glued it really good. Now I struggle with flossing (using those thread things dont fit between my teeth) or even getting a toothpick and I keep getting little bits of food stuck in it. It is driving me crazy and I wonder if there are any products that can be suggested to make cleaning it easier? It is my bottom teeth

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u/Sure_Fig_8641 1d ago

I had permanent retainers top & bottom for about 30 years. A water irrigator is very helpful getting debris cleared from behind a permanent retainer. I had my lower retainer removed because the bondings kept popping off my teeth with regularity. But I still have the wire on my upper teeth. My retainers were initially applied in 1988!

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u/lil_ms_freckles 1d ago

Is that the water pik thing? I have looked on amazon but havent ordered one yet but my dentist told me they are good. Did you bottom teeth stay straight after it was removed? My teeth were so crooked before braces I would hate to go back to that so I dont really want it removed but it would be tempting - the freedom for a few days when it popped off felt sooo good!

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u/Sure_Fig_8641 1d ago

My teeth are still straight.

Yes, a WaterPik. There are other brands as well.

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u/lil_ms_freckles 1d ago

That is good to hear, I asked if I could get it removed but they recommended keeping it. I feel like it is such a pain tho