Cost: Free
I was helping my son try to hang onto his ($300-400) Dental Retainer.
It would get lost at home.
It would get lost in the backpack if he took it out at school.
It would spend more time lost than keeping his teeth straight.
He wasn't yet using the Home Base system - so I made a simple one for him. I took one of the standard dental retainer cases (The Orthodontist will probably give you one or two for free). His was bright yellow - pick something easy to spot not a color that will blend in a dark backpack.
I took a drywall screw and just screwed it into the wall by his bed. (Hinge side down, so you couldn't drop the retainer)
I gave him a simple mantra.
"IN ITS CASE OR IN YOUR FACE"
He had a second case for his school backpack or pocket, ostensibly to hold the retainer during lunch. The retainer had to either be in its case or in his mouth at all times. By having an easy to see, always findable case at home we dramatically reduced the 'where did you last chew something' hunt.
And really, one time searching through wadded up napkins in the trash bin is more than enough.
This coping strategy combines Home Base, Visual Reminder, and Mantra
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