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What happens if I don't wear my retainer?
After you finally get your braces off, the last thing you want to do is worry about wearing a retainer every single night. However, there are many reasons why you should continue to wear your retainer, even if you don't want to. Your retainer is designed to keep your newly straightened teeth in position so you don't develop further oral health and hygiene problems. Here's what will happen if you don't wear your retainer as directed by your orthodontist.
It's particularly important to wear your retainer right after you first get your braces off. During this period, your teeth and gums haven't fully settled into place yet, and they will be much more likely to shift if they don't have the added pressure of the retainer put on. If your teeth shift out of place, you could require future orthodontic treatment to correct them again.
If your teeth were to move, that could lead to other orthodontic issues that are much more serious. For example, you could experience oral pain or discomfort as a result of your teeth moving. If your teeth crowd towards your tongue, you could also experience speech issues. Of course, these are very extreme examples, but they are still something you should keep in mind in order to prevent these negative events from happening.
When you first get your retainer, clarify with your orthodontist exactly when you are supposed to wear it and when you don't need to wear it. Don't be afraid to ask questions, no matter how silly they may seem - it's always better to be completely clear when it comes to your orthodontia. In many cases, you won't need to wear your retainer quite as often as you get older and your teeth settle. However, you should clarify this with your orthodontist before reducing your retainer use.
You will also need to get your retainer replaced every few years. No matter how well you clean it, your retainer is going to wear down after a certain period of time. You should also get your retainer replaced if you lose it or notice serious damage to it. Contact us today if you have any concerns about your retainer.