Debunking Top 5 Myths About Dental Retainers

When it comes to clear aligners, braces and dental retainers, you might have heard dozens of instructions and beliefs. But are they all true?

Did you just get your teeth straightened and are wearing retainers for the first time? Are you wondering about how to wear retainers correctly or whether you should wear the same one for the rest of your life?

Fret not, we have decided to help you out by busting the top 5 common myths related to dental retainers.

What are retainers?

Retainers are the final step of your teeth straightening procedure. After your clear aligners or braces are removed, your orthodontist will recommend you start wearing retainers. Retainers make sure that your teeth don’t shift back to their original position after your teeth straightening procedure. To conclude, they hold your teeth in their ideal positions and ensure that your teeth straightening treatment doesn’t go to waste.

Top 5 Common myths about retainers, busted!

Now that you know what retainers are, when to wear retainers and what purpose they serve, let’s debunk some common myths that you must have heard about them.

1. Your retainers will move your teeth

Many people have this misconception that retainers are alternatives to clear aligners or braces and that they can be used to move your teeth to the desired location. This is not true.

The job of the retainers is to hold your teeth in the same position as they are after your teeth straightening treatment rather than to fix your orthodontic issues.

2. You only have to wear your retainers for two years

This couldn't be further from the truth. Clueless about how long you should wear retainers? You need to wear your retainers throughout your life if you want to maintain the results of your orthodontic treatment.

Your orthodontist might recommend you wear them full-time for the initial few years and after that depending on your dental condition, he or she might tell you to switch to wearing them only during the night.

3. Your teeth won’t go back to their original position

This is again not true. If you don’t wear your retainers religiously after your teeth straightening treatment, then you will notice that your teeth shift back to their original position over time. To ensure that this doesn’t happen, you must wear your retainers religiously as recommended by your orthodontist.

4. You can use the same retainer throughout your life

Wondering how long retainers last? Even if you maintain your retainers nicely, you might have to change your retainers every few years. This is because your jaw might shift and change over the years and your old retainer might no longer fit your jaw. If this happens, your retainer will start hurting you and causing you more harm than good.

5. Your teeth stop moving after a certain age

The shape of your jaw keeps shifting throughout your life. So, this means that your teeth too keep shifting over the years. This means that your teeth never stop moving after a certain age. Hence, you should continue wearing your retainers after braces throughout your life to maintain the results of your teeth straightening treatment.

The Final Verdict

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You can now consider elevating your oral care regime and get healthy gums and teeth by shopping for new and advanced oral care products by makeO . From teeth whitening kits, electric toothbrushes, retainers to chewies and aligner cleaning foams, we provide them all and more!

FAQs:

How to make sure that your retainers are in good shape?

Go for follow-up appointments every year to ensure that your current retainers are doing their job well.

Is it okay to wear your retainers all day?

Yes, it is ideal to wear your retainers for at least 22 hours a day for the best result. After a year or two, you can consult your orthodontist and switch to wearing your retainers only when you retire to bed.

Can retainers close gaps?

No, retainers cannot close gaps, unlike clear aligners. Retainers will simply hold your teeth together and restrict them from shifting back to their original position.

Should I keep my retainers in water?

Yes, you can soak your retainers in water when you are not using them.