How Long Do You have to Wear a Retainer?

How Long Do You Have To Wear A Retainer?

If you had teeth corrected with braces or Invisalign, due to crooked, gapped, and crowding issues than it is crucial that you continue wearing a retainer to keep your teeth in place.  Of course, you don’t have to wear your retainer during the day, but it is essential to keep things consistent.  As long as you wear your retainer every night, this should be sufficient to keep your teeth corrected.

Retainers are meant to hold your teeth together. If you do not wear your retainer as directed by your dentist, then there is a high possibility that your teeth will shift and you may need to correct them again using braces or Invisalign. Retainers are imperative when it comes to keeping your teeth straight after treatment.

The question remains, how long do you have to wear a retainer? The answer is that it is ideal to wear your retainer every night for the rest of your life. Doing this will ensure that the corrections stay and that patients do not have to have the corrections done again later in life.

Teeth that are crooked, misaligned, or gapped could cause health issues down the road. For instance, crooked teeth often retain food particles and get trapped; this can lead to cavities and tooth decay.  If the problem is not adequately taken care of, then gum disease has a much higher likelihood of occurring.

Benefits Of Wearing Your Retainer As Long As You Have Teeth

• Your teeth will stay straight.
• Your jaw health will improve.
• Fewer chances of getting cavities, as long as you properly integrate good oral health.
• Retainers can help with teeth grinding habits (protect your teeth).

By going too long without wearing your retainer, and then to begin using it again, you will notice that it might be uncomfortable and painful. This pain can indicate that your teeth have shifted and are the main reasons that you never want to go too long without wearing your retainer. If you want the best possible results that last a lifetime, never go more than 24-hours without wearing your retainer to keep the changes in place and not lose the results you already worked to get.  

Follow your dentist and orthodontist guidelines is crucial

Always follow your dental and orthodontist directions if you want to minimize your experience with pain. Going too long without wearing your retainer will undoubtedly cause tooth, gum, and jaw pain.  Your expensive corrective procedures will be useless, and your teeth will most likely shift and become jammed. By faithfully wearing the retainer you can avoid the pain, headache, and frustration involved in realigning your teeth again.

Remember to clean your retainer correctly; otherwise, you may experience bacteria build-up, which can lead to cavities and bad breath.  Retainers provide you and your teeth with a sense of security, knowing that your costly corrective procedure will not become ruined is essential, if you want to keep your beautiful smile.

Lost retainer? No big deal

Did you happen to lose your retainer? Contact a qualified orthodontist, and he or she will be able to make you a new one. Take care of your smile, as it keeps you confident and ready to take on the world.

If you don’t follow the proper guidelines, you will inevitably waste your hard earned dollars. Stress the importance of wearing a retainer to your children—if you don’t want to participate in the long process of wearing braces or Invisalign all over again. Learn more by contacting our office today!

Request an appointment in our Visalia dentist office here: https://www.dentistofvisalia.com.