Ever find yourself having to explain to your orthodontist that you need a new retainer because your dog ate it? Surprisingly it happens more often than not. Dogs are attracted to the saliva and the smell of the retainers. They have strong mouth muscles so when they find the retainers, they are usually destroyed by the time he/she is done chewing on them. But how can you be mad at those cute little puppy faces! To keep this from happening, when you are not wearing your retainers keep them in a retainer case up in a cabinet or in a drawer… out of the dog’s reach. This will keep those curious little noses from being tempted to try on your retainers.
If you do find yourself in this situation it is extremely important that you wear a backup retainer or see your orthodontist right away. They will probably take impressions to make you a new retainer. Believe it or not, your teeth can shift in just a few days if retainers aren’t worn.
No one wants to go back into braces, so do the smart thing and keep those retainers up high and out of sight of all four-legged friends!!!