Here's the short answer: As long as you want your teeth to remain straight, you should be wearing your retainers. It is recommended you wear your retainer at least 12 hours out of every day for the first eight weeks following the completion of your treatment.
Numerous people think that adult teeth won't change or move over their lifetime because they're permanent. This is false: adult teeth do and can shift over time, whether or not you had braces as a teenager or child. So yes, teeth move overnight, though the change might be imperceptible at first.
If you accidentally forget to wear your removable retainer for a day or two, don't worry too much. Resume your retainer regimen as instructed, and you should be fine. If it's been longer than that, such as weeks, or even months, try it on to see if it still fits.
The first three months after you've completed your orthodontic treatment you need to wear your retainers full-time, which means approximately 22 hours a day. That does mean you will need to sleep with them. However, you can remove them when you eat or brush your teeth.
Retainers are designed to keep your teeth in place, so going without wearing it for a long period of time may cause some issues. It's fine to miss a day or two, but if you go without it much longer than that, your teeth will start to shift.
If you lose your retainer or just stop wearing it, your teeth can begin to shift back to their natural position in as little as two weeks. It could be just one tooth shifting that creates a gap, or it could be a few teeth that cause numerous issues.
Rule of thumb is: you have to wear your retainers for as long as you want them to be straight. Your teeth begin to shift if you don't wear retainers at night every day. If you go a week without wearing retainers, you may notice a small amount of relapse, small spaces, or rotations.
It's essential to continue wearing your retainer as instructed by your orthodontist If you do not wear your retainer as directed by your orthodontist, your teeth may revert to their original position, thus losing the teeth straightening progress you made during your orthodontic treatment.
Wearing your retainer ensures that your teeth will be held in place while the tissue of your mouth settles into their new locations. If you don't wear a retainer your teeth will begin to shift back to their old placements from before you had braces.
If you have been wearing your retainer and it suddenly no longer fits, it's likely you have somehow damaged it, or it has worn out over time. Clear plastic retainers are easily affected by heat, so if you leave the retainer in a hot place for too long, it's likely to lose its proper shape.
Missing one night with a retainer is unlikely to cause significant teeth movement. However, if it has happened often, give our Sparta or Livingston, NJ office a call to make sure your teeth haven't shifted position.
Usually, it takes months or even years to push your pearly whites into place, and it takes time for them to get used to their new position. While it's normal for teeth to shift after braces, it's also essential to follow your orthodontist's recommendations to keep your smile in place.
Yes, your orthodontist will be able to tell from the alignment of your teeth if you aren't wearing your retainer at night time. Your orthodontist will not force you to wear your retainer if you really don't want to, but they will encourage you to consider this for the success of your treatment.
The results of the first studies, based on the movement of 30 teeth in 15 subjects over 84 days, have been summarized in a recent publication. 1 These results showed that the overall mean velocity of tooth movement was 3.8 mm/day, or about 1.1 mm/month.
If you put your retainer back on it may not fit properly anymore and may not protect your teeth from shifting. Getting into the routine of wearing a retainer at night is key to keeping your teeth from shifting. The more you wear your retainer the more effective it will be.
When a retainer feels tight and makes your teeth sore, most of the time it is because you have not been wearing it enough. Even a slight movement that is hard to visually see with your eyes can be enough to make your retainer feel tight.
This is why Invisalign recommends that the trays are worn for at least 20 to 22 hours per day. The trays are designed with the assumption that patients will comply with this rule. Failure to follow this rule can result in complications, discomfort, or even timeline treatment delays.
If you neglect to wear your retainer, your teeth may move back into their original position. This is what may happen if you do not wear your retainer after treatment with braces. Your teeth will begin to move back into their initial place as soon as your braces are removed.
Teeth movement can happen soon after braces, or take many years to occur. Teeth shift as part of the aging process. They move to the front of the mouth, particularly those on the bottom arch, which can cause crowding, wear and aesthetic problems.
Practice Excellent Oral Hygiene
People who take good care of their teeth are less likely to experience tooth movement (though genetics and other factors play a role as well). This is because regular brushing and flossing remove trapped food and bacteria that could cause deterioration of the gums and bones.
Retainers keep your smile in place when active treatment is complete. Adults need to wear their retainers for life, but adolescents may be able to stop wearing them after about 10 years.
Never try to force your old retainer in your mouth. This can not only damage your retainer, but damage your smile too. If you have to exert any force to fit your retainer, see your orthodontist first and do not put it in your mouth.
Wearing your retainers while eating is optional, but encouraged. If you wish to remove your retainers, make sure they are placed in their protective case and stored in a safe place. NEVER wrap your retainers in a napkin or tissue or place them unprotected in your pocket.
Eating and drinking while wearing your retainer increases the risk that sugars, bacteria, and food particles will become trapped within the retainer. When this occurs, your risk of dental plaque, cavities, and even gum disease increases.