What are Retainers?

Having a smile that you aren’t happy with can lead to plenty of discomfort and even personal embarrassment. Luckily, braces are a great way to fix misaligned teeth and leave you with a smile that will illuminate a room. But if you want that smile to last, then it’s important that you keep up with your oral care by using retainers for a certain amount of time after your braces are removed. If your dentist tells you that you need a retainer for your teeth, here is a bit more insight into why you should follow their instructions if you want to keep that smile looking great.

What Is A Retainer?

Braces are a treatment option to help patients who have misaligned or uneven teeth. Depending on the severity of the teeth, braces can be applied for a few months or a few years, until the orthodontist and patient are both pleased with how the teeth look. Unfortunately, your teeth can be tricky creators of habit, as they will likely tend to shift back to their original place after you remove your braces. Luckily, having a retainer in your mouth can prevent this from happening.

A retainer is a removable piece of equipment that a patient can put in their mouth, typically while they are sleeping, in order to keep their teeth in place. The structure of a retainer is very secure, which will help keep your teeth straight. Many patients clinch their teeth while sleeping, which can cause them to start to shift out of place. However, a retainer will help avoid this from happening.

How Long Do Patients Have To Wear Their Retainer?

In order to better answer this question, its best if the patient relies on their orthodontist in Nashville for more insight. The truth of the matter is that every patient is different. So while some patients may not even need to use a retainer after they have their braces removed, others may need to wear a retainer for many more years. Your orthodontist should be able to give you a better idea of your oral health and how long you may need to wear a retainer for.

What Happens If I Don’t Wear My Retainer As Suggested?

If you find yourself asking, “Why use retainers?” or, “What happens if I go a few nights without my retainer,” then all you have to do is think back to the way your teeth looked before you had braces. Getting braces can be a costly investment. That said, the idea of braces is to provide you with a life of healthy teeth and a happy smile. If you fail to use your retainer after you have your braces removed, your teeth could end up shifting back to their original position, which means all of your efforts will be wasted. When this happens, you’ll surely be disappointed with your teeth and how they’ve shifted back to their original position.

If you want to keep that beautiful smile that you’ve worked so hard to get, be sure to continually use your retainer after you have braces removed. If they are painful or you are having a hard time remembering to put your retainer in at night, talk to your orthodontist in Nashville for more information. You’ll be happy you did.

Let Gluck Orthodontics help you achieve that beautiful smile by visiting us today!