How quickly can teeth shift without a retainer?
How quickly can teeth shift without a retainer?
Our orthodontists say the first three months after debonding (getting braces removed) are the most critical, as your teeth are still getting used to the new positions. This period is when it’s easiest for your teeth to move without retainers.
Can I wear a broken retainer?
Broken Retainer – call us right away since not wearing the retainer can lead to dental shifting, but you should not wear a broken retainer. If the retainer is fixed into position on your teeth, cover any sharp pieces with braces wax to protect your other dental structures.
Will my teeth go back to normal if I wear my retainer?
In many instances, it’s possible for retainers to fix slight shifts of your teeth once your orthodontic appliance has been removed. If the shift is too large, the best-case scenario when you attempt to wear a retainer to correct the shift is that you feel discomfort on a consistent basis when wearing the retainer.
Can I wear my retainer after not wearing it for a year?
If you decide to finally wear your retainer after a year of neglect and you can still fit it over your teeth, you are incredibly lucky! Best case scenario is that you’ll be able to fit the retainer on – even if it’s a bit tight.
Is it bad to wear a tight retainer?
It is normal for your retainer to feel tight after 6 years because teeth always shift a bit. If you see spacing or crowding, you should consider wearing the retainer at night again. If the retainer feels very tight, it means that your teeth are moving or have moved a lot.
What happens if you forget to wear your retainer for one night?
When you forget to wear your retainer at night, you run the risk of losing your straight smile and all the time spent wearing your braces. However, if you only forget to wear your retainer for a night, likely the visible appearance of your teeth won’t change right away but can if this continues to happen.
Is it OK to wear retainers only at night?
After eight weeks of wearing your retainers for half of each day, with the approval of your orthodontist, you can begin wearing your retainers at night only. Wearing them more often than just at night is never a bad thing though, as long as you’re taking them out to eat and cleaning them properly.
When can I stop wearing my retainer every night?
You should continue wearing your retainer every night until you have been in retainers for about a year. After a year has passed, you should be okay to wear your retainer every other night for the rest of your life.
Why do my teeth hurt after putting retainer?
If you can get it to fit, you may notice that it causes pain when you wear it. This is because the teeth are not in their correct position and your retainer is designed to match that position. When teeth shift occurs, a retainer can place pressure on the teeth.
How do I stop my retainer from hurting?
If you experience soreness, follow these tips to help ease the pain:
- Use an oral anesthetic. Orajel and Anbesol are a few pain relievers that can be applied directly to your teeth and gums.
- Take over-the-counter pain relief medicine. Be proactive!
- Use an icepack.
- Drink cold water.
- Eat soft foods.
- Be patient.
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