My Dog Ate My Retainer! What Should I Do?
Posted on 05/09/2022
It happens more often than you might think: a patient sets a retainer down for just a few minutes, and the family dog finds it before they do.
At Tollgate Orthodontics, we regularly hear some version of, "My dog ate my retainer!"
Dogs can be surprisingly attracted to retainers. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) notes that dogs may be drawn to the scent of saliva and the materials used to make retainers. If a retainer is left on a table, nightstand, couch, or anywhere else within reach, it can quickly become a chew toy.
Why Dogs Chew Retainers
Retainers spend hours in your mouth, so they naturally carry your scent and saliva. To a curious dog, that can make them especially interesting.
Unfortunately, it does not take long for a dog to bend, crack, puncture, or destroy a retainer.
Even if the damage looks minor, a chewed retainer may no longer fit correctly. Wearing a damaged retainer can be uncomfortable and may not hold your teeth in the proper position.
What Should You Do If Your Dog Chews Your Retainer?
If your retainer has been damaged, stop wearing it and contact Tollgate Orthodontics as soon as possible.
Do not try to bend it back into shape, glue it, heat it, or repair it yourself. A retainer must fit your teeth accurately to do its job.
The sooner we can evaluate the situation and arrange for a replacement, the better the chance of preventing unwanted tooth movement.
Why Replacing a Retainer Quickly Matters
Your orthodontic treatment doesn't end the day your braces come off, or your clear aligner treatment is completed.
Retainers are essential to maintaining your new smile.
After orthodontic treatment, teeth naturally tend to move. Wearing your retainers as prescribed by Dr. Eves helps keep your teeth in the positions achieved during treatment.
Going without a retainer for too long can allow teeth to shift. In some cases, even small changes can affect how the replacement retainer fits.
That's why you should address a lost or damaged retainer promptly rather than waiting until your next regular appointment.
Dogs Aren't the Only Threat to Retainers
Pets may be frequent offenders, but retainers can also be lost or damaged in plenty of other ways.
Some of the most common include:
- Wrapping a retainer in a napkin and accidentally throwing it away
- Leaving it on a school or restaurant lunch tray
- Putting it in a pocket and sitting on it
- Dropping it from a purse or backpack
- Stepping on it
- Leaving it near heat
- Misplacing it while traveling
- Leaving it where a pet can reach it
You can avoid many of these problems with one simple habit.
The Safest Place for Your Retainer
When your retainer is not in your mouth, it should be in its retainer case.
Not on the kitchen counter.
Not wrapped in a tissue.
Not sitting beside your bed.
And definitely not somewhere your dog can reach it.
Using the case every time dramatically reduces the chances of accidentally losing, breaking, or throwing away your retainer.
How to Protect Your Smile After Orthodontic Treatment
A retainer may seem like a small appliance, but it protects a significant investment of time and effort.
You and your orthodontic team worked hard to achieve your new smile. Consistent retainer wear helps preserve those results for years to come.
Follow the retainer schedule recommended by Dr. Eves, keep your retainers clean, store them properly, and contact us if they become damaged, lost, or no longer fit comfortably.
My Dog Ate My Retainer — Should I Call the Orthodontist?
Yes.
If your dog chewed, damaged, or destroyed your retainer, contact Tollgate Orthodontics promptly. We can help determine whether you need a replacement and what steps to take to keep your teeth from shifting.
Replacement retainers do cost money, but replacing one quickly can help protect the much larger investment you have already made in your orthodontic treatment.
So remember the simplest rule:
Your retainer belongs in one of two places — in your mouth or in its case.
And if Fido gets to it first, call Tollgate Orthodontics.
Why Choose an Orthodontic Specialist?
Dr. Eves is an orthodontist and a member of the American Association of Orthodontists.
Orthodontists first complete dental school, then receive additional specialty education through an accredited orthodontic residency program focused on tooth movement, jaw development, bite correction, and orthodontic treatment.
Choosing an orthodontic specialist means a doctor with advanced training in orthodontics will manage your treatment and long-term retention plan.