The immediate time following the removal of your braces is the most critical for keeping your teeth straight. Wearing a retainer for the prescribed time is the best way to maintain your new smile. If you abandon your retainer, your teeth will move back into their original position. This is what happens if you don’t wear your retainer after braces treatment.
After One Week
Your teeth will start to move back into their original position as soon as your braces are removed. Everyone’s teeth shift at different speeds, and even the slightest shift can impact your retainer’s fitting. Wearing your retainer at night is essential in the first week to prevent any relapse.
After One Month
After a month of not wearing your retainer, you may notice a change in your bite, and your teeth may start to shift back into their initial place. At this point, you will need to schedule an appointment with your dentist to get a different retainer. You may also need to wear your new retainer more frequently – during the day as well as at night.
After One Year
Going a year retainer-less means that your teeth will have continued to move back to their original position and may even be crooked. The only solution left may be to restart treatment with braces. However, by wearing your retainer as instructed by your orthodontist, you can prevent this from happening.
Keeping your teeth to their new positions can be as simple as wearing your retainer after getting your braces off. Not wearing it will make you lose the smile you spent time and money on to achieve. Wearing a retainer can be both irritating and frustrating; while it may take you some time getting used to wearing a retainer, it will be worth it in the long run.
Contact Brenham Family Dental for more information or to schedule a consultation.