Can You Drink Water With Retainers?

Can you drink water with retainers? Let’s find out here whether you can drink with retainers on or not.

We know that orthodontic treatment can be challenging, and we want to make sure that you are as informed as possible during this time. That is why we wrote this Dbd guide for all of you who wear retainers.

Here we have covered everything from do’s and don’ts to food and drink you should avoid with retainers. We have also included a FAQs section about drinking with retainers to assist you in finding the answer you are looking for.

So, let’s now jump in and find out if it is okay to drink water with retainers or not.

Can you drink water with retainers?

There are three different types of retainers. Clear plastic retainers, Hawley removable retainers, and permanent retainers. It all depends on which type of retainer you are wearing.

So, let’s check all of them one by one.

1. Can you drink water with clear plastic removable retainers?

You can drink room temperature water with your clear plastic removable retainers. Be aware that excess liquid trapped on plastic retainer may grow bacteria and cause tooth decay. However, it is good to detect them while drinking and eating to be on the safe side.

If you are drinking cold water or any other beverage that might have ice in it, strictly remove your plastic retainer before consuming the drink. It is also recommended to avoid drinking hot water. Drinking water in extreme temperatures can damage your clear plastic removable retainer.

Additionally, even if you have to wear clear retainers for lengthy periods, it is better to take them off before drinking or eating.

Learn More: How Long Should You Wear a Plastic Retainer?

2. Can you drink water with Hawley retainers?

You may drink room temperature water with your Hawley retainer. However, while wearing these retainers, do not drink hot or cold beverages. The body of the Hawley retainer consists of thin wires and plastic. As a result, extreme temperature water makes them brittle and eventually breaks them.

You should wear Hawley retainer as long as possible each day. However, you should avoid eating or drinking while wearing them.

Learn More: Know How Long to Wear Hawley Retainers?

3. Can you drink water with fixed retainers?

You do not have any choice, do you?

You can drink water wearing permanent retainers. Fixed retainers are made up of metal wire and are glued permanently at the back of your teeth. As the name suggests, they are not removable like other retainers like clear plastic, Hawley, or Essix retainer. You will need professional assistance removing it.

Therefore, you can eat and drink water wearing a permanent retainer. However, keeping retainer plaque-free could be a challenging task. You should be aware of the best ways to clean retainers regularly. Gently brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush to clean them regularly.

Even though permanent retainers are long-lasting, fixed retainer and its associated expenses may be high.

Do’s and Don’ts with retainers

Proper care of retainer will help increase the longevity of the device and serve you its best purpose. Wearing a retainer and its care can be hard. Thus, here we have included a few basic things you should do or avoid while wearing a retainer:

• Wear your retainers for at least 12 hours each day. Please do not wear them while eating and drinking.
• With your fingertips, gently place your retainers in the position. Do not bite into it.
• Retainers should fit properly to the desired position. Make sure they fit comfortably. The wrong fitted retainer could cause long-term damage. ^[1]https://www3.aaoinfo.org/blog/my-retainer-feels-tight-can-i-still-wear-it/
• Avoid fizzy drinks, carbonated beverages, flavored water, and other acidic beverages that can damage your retainers.
• Brush your teeth at least twice a day. Bacteria can proliferate while wearing retainers.
• Follow the best methods to clean the retainer properly. Rinse and dry thoroughly following these measures to keep them bacteria-free. You can also use a specialized retainer cleaner to keep them clean. ^[2]https://www3.aaoinfo.org/blog/taking-care-of-retainers/
• A removable retainer should be kept in a clean case like any other removable dental appliance.
• Permanent retainers should be examined regularly by your orthodontist.
• Retainers that are broken are avoided at all costs. They do not serve the purpose of keeping straightened teeth in the right place.
• Sometimes it may hurt to wear a retainer. If wearing a retainer causes discomfort, see your orthodontist as soon as possible. Avoid missing retainer wear time.

FAQs about drinking with retainers

Final thoughts

Retainers are used to hold the teeth in an improved position after any orthodontic treatment. They help keep your teeth stay straight and healthy after braces come off. If you are looking for a way to make sure to keep your beautiful smile, then proper use of retainers is what you need!

Additionally, permanent retainers are often made of metal, but many other types of retainers are acrylic. So, depending on the types of retainers you wore makes a difference what to eat and drink. Unless it is a permanent one, you cannot drink with retainers in most cases. It is required to remove your retainers before drinking anything other than regular water.

We hope now you have a sound understanding of whether you can drink water with retainers or not. You now know what to do and what not to do while wearing retainers.

If you find this information helpful, please feel free to share it with your friends and family.