What happens if you stop wearing your retainer

In a way, teeth remember their original position. Even after the bones and ligaments that surround your teeth change, your teeth will want to slip back into their original alignment.

In certain cases, your orthodontist will attach a permanent retainer to the backs of your teeth. Patients that receive this will wear the retainers all the time, even while they eat and brush.

This style of retainer can only be removed by a dentist, and when this is taken out, patients will receive a removable retainer to wear during sleep. Most patients are given a set of retainers that are removed for eating and brushing. The First Months: During this time, retainers should be worn for 22 hours a day or more.

The only time they should be removed is to brush and floss or to eat. Your orthodontist will continue to monitor your progress before approving you to wear them at night only. Once you have your braces removed, your orthodontic journey is not over. If you try and put in your retainer after not wearing it for a week, you may notice it might feel a little tight. After a few hours of wear, it will feel less tight as your teeth will begin to move into position.

You may feel a little pain or some tender gums and teeth during this process, as it is similar to the slight pain of wearing braces, however this should cease after some time. Once you realize your teeth have shifted, it will likely be too late to try and get them back to as-perfect-as-possible without actually reapplying your braces.

This is not a reality any of our patients get excited about, so try your best to create a night time oral hygiene routine that includes always putting in your retainer. No matter what causes your teeth to shift, at Foley Wilde Orthodontics we will never make you feel guilty about your journey towards your best-possible smile. If you have issues with shift, book an appointment with us and we will be happy to help you get back on track, so you can enjoy the teeth you want to see smiling back at you in the mirror.

As you can see, failing to wear your retainer properly can have some pretty hefty consequences. After all, now you know how important this piece is to your treatment plan.

At Milnor Orthodontics, our experts are here to help you achieve a priceless smile. Call our office at or visit milnororthodontics. We're located at S.

Shields St. Why Wearing Your Retainer is Important First off, why are these little pieces of acrylic so important?