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Step 1
Use the retainer storage box provided by your orthodontist. These boxes are made to hold your retainer, and they usually feature bold, bright colors that make the box difficult to lose. If you no longer have your retainer storage box, call your orthodontist and ask about a replacement, or order one online (see Resources).
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Step 2
Store your retainer in the bathroom every night. Keep it next to your toothbrush and toothpaste so you can easily find it in the morning.
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Step 3
Keep your retainer in plain sight while you eat. The most common way people lose a retainer is by wrapping it in a napkin while they eat. If you keep it in view, you're less likely to accidentally toss it out.
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Step 4
Learn to eat with your retainer in your mouth. The best way to keep from losing your retainer is to keep it in your mouth. If food particles get stuck in the retainer while you eat, rinse it off in the bathroom and immediately put it back in your mouth.
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Step 5
Avoid storing your retainer in your pockets or purse. This is the most common way retainers become broken.
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Step 6
Pay for your new retainer yourself. When you realize how much it costs to replace, you're more likely to pay attention to it.
