How long do you have to wear a retainer before your teeth stop shifting?
As your chompers move, they leave behind gaps in the surrounding bone and other tissue. A set of retainers will hold your teeth in place while your tissue catches up. This is why it’s important to wear your retainers full-time for the first 3-6 months. The bad news is your teeth are always moving.
Is it bad to wear your retainer after your teeth have shifted?
In most cases, wearing an old retainer can realign your smile so long as your teeth have not shifted into an entirely new position. As a rule of thumb, wearing an old retainer should not be an issue so long as it still fits without needing to apply any force while inserting it over your teeth.
When can I start wearing my retainer 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.
What happens if I stop wearing my retainer after 2 years?
When you stop wearing retainers consistently, the teeth will slowly shift and move into different positions. This means that formerly crowded teeth will become crowded and crooked again. Teeth that had spaces between then will revert to gaps opening back up.
Will my teeth shift without retainer for 3 days?
Your retainer may feel a bit tighter on your teeth when you place it back in again. Throughout the rest of your retention phase, it’s still possible for your teeth to shift a bit if you go without wearing your retainer for a week.
Can I stop wearing retainer after 1 year?
You’ve probably heard of traditional and plastic retainers before. But permanent retainers might seem a little unusual to you. Retainers keep your smile in place when active treatment is complete and adults need to wear their retainers for life, but adolescents may be able to stop wearing them after about 10 years.