Why is my retainer loose on one side?

If your retainer starts feeling loose, that’s a strong sign that it’s time to replace it. This doesn’t mean there is an issue with your teeth. Retainers wear down overtime and grow wider. This is why they can feel loose eventually, even if you have been good about wearing it.

Is it bad if my retainer is loose?

It Feels Loose Over time, retainers will wear down and become wide and unfitting. When this happens, your retainer will no longer keep your teeth in place. It’s important to get a replacement before that happens because at that point your teeth will begin slowly shifting back to their original position again.

What happens if one side of your retainer doesn’t fit?

Regardless of what the cause is, if your retainer isn’t fitting, you should schedule an appointment with an orthodontist immediately. The longer you wait, the more likely the effects of your braces or aligners will be reversed.

How do I know if my retainer fits properly?

The plastic should fit snugly over your whole row of teeth, and should not move. Make sure your retainer fits over all of your teeth, including in the back to hold it in place. If your retainer is falling out, or not staying in place, you may not have anchored it properly.

Why does my retainer slip off?

If you skip some time in your retainer, your retainer may get too tight. If you notice small but progressive changes in the days or weeks after your braces come off, your retainer may need to be adjusted or replaced. The sooner you notice the problem and report it to your orthodontist, the easier it will be to correct.

How do I know if my permanent retainer is loose?

You usually become aware that the wire is loose, because the wire will begin to feel rough against your tongue. Occasionally, you may not feel any roughness with your tongue, but only notice some movement of your teeth. You must contact your orthodontist immediately if this occurs.

Should retainers touch teeth?

A glued-in retainer does not touch or hold the back teeth because is not possible to have a wire go around the entire mouth. Thus, the back teeth may possibly move over time.

What happens if you don’t wear your retainers?

According to the American Association of Orthodontics, if you are not wearing retainers the stipulated time that will result in teeth moving back to their misaligned position. This can happen through habitual facial and muscular habits when eating, drinking, talking, or sleeping.

How do Orthodontists fix a broken permanent retainer?

Your orthodontist will place new dental composite over the wire and bond it to your teeth. It’s a 5 minute process in all. If you have a broken permanent retainer that comes completely off your teeth, your orthodontist can oftentimes take this same retainer and bond it back onto the teeth.

How can I get more comfortable with talking with a retainer?

To get more comfortable with talking while wearing your retainer, you should start by speaking slowly to those closest to you on a daily basis. The more you practice speaking, the more comfortable you will become with talking with a retainer.

Will teeth move out of place after losing a retainer?

Teeth won’t immediately move out of place after you lose your retainer. For example, if you lose it on Monday, on Tuesday teeth won’t be misaligned. Additional studies are needed to determine precisely how long you can go without your aligners.