What to do when a retainer is lost

Search the likely places

• Your bag, coat pockets, and backpack
• Napkins, tissues, and the bin where you last ate
• Your car, gym bag, or sports kit
• Bedding and the floor around where you sleep

Contact your team

Call or message your orthodontic team even if you have not found it yet. They can tell you how soon to arrange a replacement and whether a backup is suitable to wear in the meantime.

While you wait

• Use a backup retainer only if your team says it is suitable.
• Do not try to make or bend a replacement at home.
• Keep up your normal cleaning routine so your teeth stay healthy.

Prevent it next time

• Put the retainer in the same labeled case every time you take it out.
• Never wrap it in a napkin or tissue.
• Keep the case in the same place at home, and pack it when traveling.
• Check your case before leaving a restaurant, classroom, or gym.