Toggle navigation
9625 Northcross Center Ct Ste 301 Huntersville, NC 28078-7353(704) 987-0505
  • blog
  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Request an Appointment

  • Home
  • Our Doctors
  • Office
  • Services
  • New Patients
  • Contact Us
  • Appointment Request
  • Patient Education

Eden Sher and the Lost Retainer

  • Blog Home
  • Dental+Procedures
  • Eden Sher and the Lost Retainer

Eden Sher and the Lost Retainer

By Southlake Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
October 28, 2016
Category: Dental Procedures
Tags: celebrity smiles   braces   orthodontics  
EdenSherandtheLostRetainer

Fans of the primetime TV show The Middle were delighted to see that high school senior Sue, played by Eden Sher, finally got her braces off at the start of Season 6. But since this popular sitcom wouldn’t be complete without some slapstick comedy, this happy event is not without its trials and tribulations: The episode ends with Sue’s whole family diving into a dumpster in search of the teen’s lost retainer. Sue finds it in the garbage and immediately pops it in her mouth. But wait — it doesn’t fit, it’s not even hers!

If you think this scenario is far-fetched, guess again. OK, maybe the part about Sue not washing the retainer upon reclaiming it was just a gag (literally and figuratively), but lost retainers are all too common. Unfortunately, they’re also expensive to replace — so they need to be handled with care. What’s the best way to do that? Retainers should be brushed daily with a soft toothbrush and liquid soap (dish soap works well), and then placed immediately back in your mouth or into the case that came with the retainer. When you are eating a meal at a restaurant, do not wrap your retainer in a napkin and leave it on the table — this is a great way to lose it! Instead, take the case with you, and keep the retainer in it while you’re eating. When you get home, brush your teeth and then put the retainer back in your mouth.

If you do lose your retainer though, let us know right away. Retention is the last step of your orthodontic treatment, and it’s extremely important. You’ve worked hard to get a beautiful smile, and no one wants to see that effort wasted. Yet if you neglect to wear your retainer as instructed, your teeth are likely to shift out of position. Why does this happen?

As you’ve seen firsthand, teeth aren’t rigidly fixed in the jaw — they can be moved in response to light and continuous force. That’s what orthodontic appliances do: apply the right amount of force in a carefully controlled manner. But there are other forces at work on your teeth that can move them in less predictable ways. For example, normal biting and chewing can, over time, cause your teeth to shift position. To get teeth to stay where they’ve been moved orthodontically, new bone needs to form around them and anchor them where they are. That will happen over time, but only if they are held in place with a retainer. That’s why it is so important to wear yours as directed — and notify us immediately if it gets lost.

And if ever you do have to dig your retainer out of a dumpster… be sure to wash it before putting in in your mouth!

If you would like more information on retainers, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can learn more in the Dear Doctor magazine articles “The Importance of Orthodontic Retainers” and “Why Orthodontic Retainers?”

0 Comment(s) Permalink

Comments:






Subscribe to our RSS Feed

Archive:

  • 2021
      • January (2)
        • This Odd Tongue Condition Isn't Something To Fret Over
        • What To Do and Not Do for These 3 Common Childhood Dental Problems
  • 2020
      • December (3)
        • Smoking Could Increase the Risk of an Implant Failure
        • Listen to Ellen DeGeneres: Don't Think You Can Get Away Without Flossing!
        • This Laser Procedure Promises Big Benefits for Gum Disease Treatment
      • November (3)
        • Smoking Increases Your Risk for Gum Disease
        • Although Challenging, Cleaning Around Implants Boosts Their Longevity
        • You Don't Need to Pass a Football Like Patrick Mahomes to Remove a Loose Baby Tooth
      • October (3)
        • Your Dentist Could Help You Overcome Sleep Apnea
        • Transform 'Smile Zone' Teeth With Composite Resins
        • Wisdom Teeth Bear Close Monitoring for Future Dental Health
      • September (3)
        • The Howie Mandel Effect: Avoid Dental Disease Through Daily Brushing and Flossing
        • Want to Improve Your Athletic Performance? Try Tuning Up Your Dental Care
        • Unpleasant Cracked Mouth Corners Can Be Treated and Prevented
      • August (3)
        • Take These Steps to Alleviate Chronic Dry Mouth
        • What You Can Do About Bad Breath (Unless You're a Famous Actress Pranking Your Co-Star)
        • Talk With Your Dentist About Antibiotic Therapy Before Implant Surgery
      • July (3)
        • We Need to Act Quickly to Save Your Loose Tooth
        • 4 Ways to Avoid Dental Disease While Wearing Braces
        • Pretty Little Liars' Lucy Hale Crushes on Smiles
      • June (3)
        • If a Root Canal Won't Work, This Procedure Might Save Your Tooth
        • Treating Gum Disease is Good for Your Whole Body, Not Just Your Mouth
        • A Little Dairy Can Go a Long Way for Maintaining Healthy Teeth
      • May (3)
        • Bruins' Zdeno Chara Breaks His Jaw During 2019 Stanley Cup
        • Reducing Your Child's Dental Anxiety Now Could Benefit Them for a Lifetime
        • Porcelain Veneers Could Change Your Smile and Your Life!
      • April (3)
        • Avoid Becoming a Dental Injury Statistic - Get a Custom Mouthguard for Your Young Athlete
        • Even Celebrities Have Accidents: See What They Do to Restore Their Chipped Teeth
        • Ultra-Thin Veneers Might Help You Avoid Enamel Removal
      • March (3)
        • We may Need to Remove one or More Teeth Before Applying Braces
        • Be Wary When Considering Botox Treatment for TMD
        • Miley Cyrus's Little Secret: Straightening Her Smile With Lingual Braces
      • February (3)
        • Test Your Expertise in Caring for Your Child's Dental Health With This Short Quiz
        • Something Between Your Teeth? Don't Use Anything Else but Dental Floss
        • Why Gum Disease Could Affect More Than Your Oral Health
      • January (3)
        • Julianne Hough Shares a Video - and a Song - After Wisdom Teeth Come Out
        • Dental Care During Pregnancy is Safe and Essential
        • Tobacco: One Baseball Tradition We Can Do Without
  • 2019
      • December (3)
        • These 4 Habits Could Help You Avoid Gum Disease
        • Pop Star Demi Lovato Pops Out Jay Glazer's Tooth
        • 4 Ways to Enjoy Holiday Snacking and Still Keep Your Teeth Healthy
      • November (3)
        • Cleft Defects Can Be Overcome, Thanks to Advanced Surgical Procedures
        • Share These Timely Dental Care Tips With Your College-Bound Son or Daughter
        • Find Out How These Famous Celebrities Protect Their Smiles From Teeth Grinding
      • October (4)
        • How to Lower Your Child's Tooth Decay Risk From Halloween Candy
        • That Scalded Feeling Isn't in Your Head - It Could Be Burning Mouth Syndrome
        • The Triple Partnership That Could Save a Cancer Patient's Oral Health
        • J-Lo's Unlucky Break: Chipping a Tooth on Stage
      • September (3)
        • Your Quest for a Dental Implant Might Be Interrupted by Bone Loss
        • Improving Hygiene Skills Maximizes Removal of Disease-Causing Plaque
        • Put the Extra Effort in Your Oral Hygiene While Wearing Braces
      • August (3)
        • How Shawn Mendes and Miley Cyrus Got Their Stellar Smiles
        • Don't Let Gum Disease Cut Short Your Implant's Service Life
        • Contrary to Popular Opinion, Vaping May Not Be Safer Than Smoking
      • July (3)
        • To Extract or not Extract? The Big Decision About Your Child's Wisdom Teeth
        • Actor David Ramsey Discusses Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
        • Be on the Alert for White Spots on Teeth While Wearing Braces
      • June (3)
        • Wisdom Teeth and What to Do About Them
        • Not So Fast Replacing That Tooth - Consider Saving it First
        • NBC Star Delivers a Message about the "Perfect" Smile
      • May (3)
        • Don't Use Benzocaine Products to Ease Your Baby's Teething Pain
        • Here's How You Can Protect Your Child's Teeth from Tooth Decay
        • 3 Things You Can do to Help Promote Your Child's Dental Development
      • April (3)
        • Margot Robbie Knows: A Great Smile Is Worth Protecting
        • Crown Lengthening Could Help with Treating Hard to Reach Cavities
        • A Minor Procedure Could Make Breastfeeding Easier for You and Your Baby
      • March (3)
        • Beat Dental Plaque While Wearing Braces with These Tools and Tips
        • How Kathy Bates Retains Her Movie-Star Smile
        • Spring Into Better Oral Health
      • February (3)
        • Local Anesthesia Takes the Pain Out of Most Dental Work
        • Not Jazzed About Wearing Braces? Consider Clear Aligners Instead
        • Healthy Smiles for Alfonso Ribeiro and Family
      • January (3)
        • Want to Keep Enjoying Winter Sports? Wear a Mouthguard!
        • Crown Lengthening Might be Necessary for Seniors with Tooth Decay
        • A New Veneer with Minimal or No Tooth Alteration
  • 2018
      • December (3)
        • Bobby Bones Dances His Way to Dental Damage
        • What You Need to Know to Buy the Right Toothbrush
        • Dental Visits are Key to Detecting Early Developing Tooth Decay
      • November (3)
        • Lasers Could be the Future for Gum Disease Treatment
        • Baseball's Francisco Lindor Shines as "Mr. Smile"
        • Dentures are Still a Viable Choice for Tooth Replacement
      • October (3)
        • Stay Ahead of Plaque Buildup with Effective Brushing and Flossing
        • Ease Your Child's Teething Discomfort with these Tips
        • Janet Jackson: Even pop stars get insecure about their smiles!
      • September (3)
        • Know the Facts to Reduce Your Child's Teething Discomfort
        • A New School Year, A New Beginning
        • Tell Your Dentist if You're Having a Shingles Outbreak
      • August (3)
        • Dr. Travis Stork: Don't Ignore Bleeding Gums
        • Take Years off Your Smile by Treating Age-Related Dental Problems
        • How to Reduce Tooth White Spots While Wearing Braces
      • July (3)
        • 4 Important Facts About Gum Recession and What You can do About It
        • Dental Injury Is Just a Temporary Setback for Basketball Star Kevin Love
        • Don't Take a Vacation From Oral Hygiene This Summer!
      • June (3)
        • Don't Fear the Root Canal - it Could Save Your Tooth
        • Gum Disease is Still a Threat to Your Dental Implants
        • Ariana Grande Breaks Free - of Her Wisdom Teeth
      • May (3)
        • 3 Orthodontic Options for Correcting Bad Bites
        • Take Steps to Treat Chronic Mouth Breathing as Early as Possible
        • Implant-Supported Dentures Could Contribute to Better Bone Health
      • April (4)
        • Jamie Foxx Chips a Tooth - This Time by Accident!
        • Worried about Your Child's School Snack Choices? Here's What You Can Do
        • Are Lasers for Gum Disease Treatment in Our Future?
        • Keep an Eye on Your Young Children's Fluoride Intake
      • March (2)
        • Kris Dunn Is the Latest NBA Player to Injure His Teeth on the Court
        • 3 Things Your Dentist Recommends You do if You Have Shingles
      • February (1)
        • Dentures Require Planning and Attention to Detail to Look Natural
      • January (3)
        • Your Health Could Affect the Longevity of a Dental Implant
        • Life Is Sometimes a Grind for Brooke Shields
        • The Right Treatment for Your Child's Injured Tooth Increases its Survival
  • 2017
      • December (2)
        • Transforming a Cleft Lip or Palate into a Beautiful Smile
        • Coaxing Impacted Teeth to the Right Position can Improve Your Smile
      • November (2)
        • Expert Advice: Vivica A. Fox on Kissing and Oral health
        • Understanding the Aging Process Leads to More Effective Orthodontics
      • October (2)
        • Don't Forget Your Oral Hygiene While Wearing Braces
        • Lasers Poised to Transform Current Treatment for Gum Disease
      • September (3)
        • Kathy Bates Plays It Smart With Professional Teeth Whitening
        • Take Proactive Steps to Protect Your Oral Health During Cancer Treatment
        • Dr. Travis Stork: If Only I'd Worn A Mouthguard!
      • August (2)
        • The Timely Use of a Palatal Expander Could Help Correct a Cross-Bite
        • Actress Emma Stone Reveals How Thumb Sucking Affected Her Teeth
      • July (2)
        • Orthodontists can Use Other Tools with Braces for Complex Bite Problems
        • How Big Bang Theory Actress Mayim Bialik Gets Her Kids to Floss
      • June (2)
        • Screw or Cement: Which is Best for Attaching Your Implant Crown?
        • Vivica's Veneers: the Making of a Hollywood Smile
      • May (2)
        • Only a Dental Exam can Identify the Root Cause of Your Tooth Pain
        • Any Time, Any Place: Cam Newton's Guide to Flossing
      • April (2)
        • Pediatric Dentists Specialize in Dental Care for Children and Teens
        • Noah Galloway's Dentally Dangerous Dancing
      • March (3)
        • All Gum Disease Treatments Have the Same Goal - Removing Bacterial Plaque
        • Game, Set, Match: Milos Raonic Says A Mouthguard Helps Him Win
        • The Top 3 Oral Problems in America - and What You Should Do About Them
      • February (2)
        • Sofia Vergara: 'Obsessed' With Oral Hygiene
        • Take These Actions to Make Your Child More Comfortable During Teething
      • January (2)
        • Fifth Harmony's Camila Cabello Chips a Tooth, but Concert Still "Worth It"
        • Success with Dental Implants Depends on Attention to Detail
  • 2016
      • December (2)
        • Even Celebrities Like Jennifer Lawrence Aren't Immune From Bad Breath!
        • Help 'De-Stress' Your Child's Dental Visits with these Tips
      • November (2)
        • Jimmy Fallon Can’t Catch a Break - Except in His Tooth
        • 3 Questions You Should Ask Before Undergoing Adult Orthodontics
      • October (2)
        • Eden Sher and the Lost Retainer
        • Inflammation is a Key Element in Both Oral and Systemic Diseases
      • September (2)
        • Master Illusionist Benefits from the Magic of Orthodontics
        • How we Treat your Jaw Pain Depends on the Cause
      • August (3)
        • A Royal Fix
        • Dentures Still an Effective Restoration for Total Tooth Loss
        • Jason Derulo's Ideal Match
      • July (2)
        • Don't Forget Hidden Fluoride Sources Your Family Could be Ingesting
        • Beyonce Makes Flossing a Family Affair
      • June (2)
        • Keeping Gum Disease at Bay Could Help Your Overall Health
        • No "Glee" in Tooth Grinding
      • May (2)
        • Orthodontics Could be the Smile Transformer You've Been Looking For
        • Dental Crowns for the King of Magic
      • April (2)
        • Dental Porcelain is a Great Option for Creating a Natural Appearance
        • Chrissy Teigen's Teeth-Grinding Troubles
      • March (3)
        • Veneers an Affordable, Low Impact Way to Achieve a More Attractive Smile
        • Tom Hanks' Abscessed Tooth Gets Cast Away
        • Managing Diabetes and Gum Disease Together will Lessen the Effect of Both
      • February (2)
        • America's (Dentists) Got Talent - for Fixing Damaged or Missing Teeth!
        • Kids, Cats and Canines: Dental Development Through the Ages
      • January (2)
        • Neil Patrick Harris: What the Oscars Host Treasures Most
        • Taking the Dread Out of Dental Visits
  • 2015
      • December (3)
        • A Toothless Tiger?
        • Put an End to Bad Oral Habits to Slow the Rate of Tooth Wear
        • Spice Up Your Teeth
      • November (2)
        • 3 Ways to Reduce the Bacteria in Your Mouth that Cause Tooth Decay
        • Dwight Howard: A Bright NBA Star With a Smile to Match
      • October (2)
        • Early Orthodontic Treatment Could Lessen Severity of Certain Bite Problems
        • Actor David Ramsey Says: Don't Forget to Floss!
      • September (3)
        • IV Sedation can help Relax Patients with Acute Dental Visit Anxiety
        • Dental Magic Transforms Smiles
        • Welcome Blog

Tags

  • cosmetic dentistry (8)
  • celebrity smiles (55)
  • oral hygiene (21)
  • orthodontic treatment (12)
  • tooth decay (5)
  • tooth wear (1)
  • oral health (23)
  • dental implants (7)
  • crowns (3)
  • wisdom teeth (6)
  • pediatric dentistry (15)
  • chipped teeth (2)
  • diabetes (1)
  • gum disease (14)
  • abscessed tooth (1)
  • porcelain veneers (5)
  • teeth wear (1)
  • braces (9)
  • tooth grinding (1)
  • fluoride (2)
  • dentures (4)
  • bonding (1)
  • jaw pain (1)
  • tmj disorders (2)
  • orthodontics (8)
  • bad breath (2)
  • chipped tooth (2)
  • teething (4)
  • mouthguards (5)
  • periodontal disease (1)
  • dental emergency (1)
  • dental injury (6)
  • tooth pain (1)
  • veneers (1)
  • headgear (1)
  • thumb sucking (1)
  • palatal expander (1)
  • mouthguard (1)
  • teeth whitening (1)
  • laser dentistry (2)
  • cleft lip (2)
  • cleft palate (2)
  • oral surgery (2)
  • root canal treatment (2)
  • teeth grinding (2)
  • shingles (2)
  • nutrition (2)
  • root canal (1)
  • gum recession (1)
  • smile makeover (1)
  • crown lengthening (2)
  • clear aligners (1)
  • local anesthesia (1)
  • retainers (1)
  • retainer (1)
  • vaping (1)
  • smoking (2)
  • dental implant (4)
  • oral cancer (1)
  • pregnancy (1)
  • lingual braces (1)
  • tmd (1)
  • extractions (1)
  • apicoectomy (1)
  • loose tooth (1)
  • dry mouth (1)
  • snoring (1)
  • sleep apnea (1)
  • toothache (1)

Categories:

  • None (1)
  • Dental Procedures (80)
  • Oral Health (88)

Our Location

9625 Northcross Center Ct Ste 301
Huntersville, NC 28078-7353
(704) 987-0505

Map & directions

Office Hours
Monday:7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday:7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday:7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday:7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday:Closed
Saturday:Closed
Sunday:Closed
  • Home
  • Our Doctors
  • Offices
  • Services
  • New Patients
  • Patient Education
  • Contact Us
  • Appointment Request
  • Dental Website Design Copyright © MH Sub I, LLC dba Officite
  • Disclaimer
  • Patient Privacy
  • Site Map