ALWAYS remember to brush your teeth after every meal and floss at least once a day. Make sure to use toothpaste that contains fluoride and ask our orthodontist or your family dentist if you need a fluoride rinse. This will help prevent cavities! If you take out your retainer to eat, make sure you brush and floss your teeth after you are done eating. Also, remember to keep your retainer safe in its container so that it does not get lost or broken. Keep your retainer clean by brushing it gently with a toothbrush and toothpaste. You may also soak it in denture cleaner as instructed by our orthodontist. Do not put your retainer in boiling water or in the dishwasher. During your treatment, try to avoid foods with a lot of sugar, which increases the number of bacteria that grow in your mouth and causes more plaque and possibly cavities. Avoid sticky and chewy foods (caramel, chewing gum, gummy bears), hard foods (hard candy, nuts, ice cubes), or any foods that could possibly get stuck in your braces (corn on the cob, soft bagels, ribs, taffy, etc.). Be sure to schedule your routine checkups with your family dentist every six months.