Finally, after a year or two of having braces on, your teeth are clean, straight, and braces-less. But, to your dismay, your journey is not yet over. Even though you were promised the sweet reprieve of having nothing in your mouth but your own sweet teeth and tongue by your parents for months, you are now “plagued” by having to wear a retainer every night. Initially, this may present itself as a large nuisance in the world of straight teeth, but retainers are much more important than you may believe.
To ensure your teeth are kept exactly as they are after your braces treatment, your retainer will be perfectly fitted to your specific mouth’s shape and size. With this, it is designed to keep the stabilization and overall structural integrity your mouth gained through braces. Not only do your teeth have the tendency to move and shift, but so do your gum and the bones in your mouth. Until your mouth has finally stopped shifting (which will never happen), you will have to wear your retainer as instructed by your orthodontist professional.
Unfortunately, as people grow older, our teeth have the natural tendency to move and shift positions, making for the crooked smile you used to have when younger. The best way to prevent this from happening is, of course, through wearing your retainer on a nightly basis for an extended period of time, or at least for however long you would like to keep perfectly straight teeth.
Retainers serve a very important purpose and should be taken seriously and worn as directed. As long as you follow all instructions your orthodontist gives you, it is likely your teeth will remain straight for as long as you like. If you ever have any questions or would like to setup an appointment with us at Bolingbrook Orthodontist, feel free to contact us at any time and we will promptly get back to you.