I thought I only would wear braces and then I'll be free.. But no one said me about retainers 😖😖😖it's hella tough to wear it.. I can't able to speak or swallow my saliva properly..
That's great to hear!!! Retainers are important for EVERYONE (even if you didn't have braces or aligners.) Teeth move and shift throughout life as a natural part of aging, so visiting your local orthodontist to have custom retainers made is important to minimize shifting throughout adulthood!
Hi, is retainer suppose to feel loose? I got my first retainers today, upper retainer feels loose and lower retainer fits well. My dentist said thats how it should be and It will be loose. I am confused and worried.
Upper and lower retainers can feel slightly different. Some factors that may influence “tightness” at delivery might be retainer type/design, alginate (goopy) impression versus digital scan, length of time between the impression/scan and delivery, and fabrication lab/process. We see our patients for a retainer check 4-6 weeks after delivering new ones to allow for settling. I recommend scheduling a follow-up visit to give yourself some peace of mind.
Is eating with retainers really bad? My orthodontist told me to wear them 24/7 except for cleaning and brushing. Yet other orthodontists I've met with had strongly disagreed.
I strongly recommend removing retainers when eating. Chewing creates a surprising amount of force that can be damaging to retainers. It’s especially important to remove Essix/clear retainers when eating and drinking anything other than non-carbonated water because the retainer can trap food particles and liquids around the teeth.
Orthodontic tooth movement involves breaking down bone in a controlled manner. The retention period stabilizes the teeth in their new positions while the bone rebuilds. Although there are different philosophies when it comes to retainer wear, we advise our patients to wear their retainers full time (22 hours per day) for the first year after appliance removal followed by night time (8-12 hours per day) for life to avoid unwanted tooth movement. Retainers are a great investment to protect your smile!
Some orthos believe it’s better to wear them when eating on-the-go to avoid losing them. I’d rather my patients take them out (and store them in their case) to reduce excess wear & tear and prevent oral hygiene issues that could result from food particles getting trapped between the retainer & teeth for extended periods of time.
Emien Marquez Don’t fret! From now on, try switching to something less abrasive. And don’t forget to visit your orthodontist for periodic retainer checks 😃
