If you had braces or aligners when you were younger, your orthodontist probably concluded your treatment by presenting you with a clean, sparkly retainer. Retainers are an important step in your smile journey, because they maintain the results of your treatment. Unfortunately, however, that means if you don’t wear them regularly, your teeth can shift back out of alignment.
If you haven’t been wearing yours as instructed and have noticed some movement in your smile, you may be wondering if you can push your teeth back into place by wearing them again. Here’s why that won’t work, and why wearing your retainers is so vital to maintaining your smile!
Why Are Retainers So Important?
Like their name, retainers are designed to retain the positioning of your teeth. When you first get your braces or aligners off, you will likely need to wear one ‘round the clock for the first month or so. Then, you can gradually begin to wear it only overnight. This will help ensure that your teeth don’t move back to their old positions and undo all that progress you made realigning your smile.
Correcting Post-Treatment Tooth Movement
If you’ve stopped wearing your retainer as directed, it’s very likely that your teeth have already begun to shift. Your retainer may already feel tight or painful, or it may not fit at all. At this stage, many patients wonder if they begin wearing it again, they can move their teeth back to their proper places, but since your retainer was only designed to stabilize your smile, it can’t make adjustments.
Should you notice that your teeth have started to shift positions, it’s important that you schedule an appointment with your orthodontist as soon as possible. You may need to wear braces or aligners again to help guide your smile back to where it should be, but your orthodontist can make this decision at your exam.
Remember, it’s extremely important to wear your retainer exactly as your orthodontist instructs you to. This will help ensure that your teeth stay in proper alignment and don’t shift back into their old positions. If you notice that your teeth have moved, please contact your orthodontist today to discuss your options.
About Our Practice
At Willow Bend Orthodontics of Plano, Dr. Tamara Jones and Dr. Stephanie Amerson understand the importance of a healthy, beautiful smile. That’s why they are happy to provide solutions like retainers to maintain your alignment after orthodontic treatment. If you need a new retainer, or if your teeth are starting to shift out of place from not wearing your current one, please don’t wait to get help. Schedule an appointment with us today and let’s get your smile back on track! We can be reached via our website, or by calling 972-732-1400.