Most people tend to overlook the fact that orthodontic tooth movement is a biological process. This means that your teeth will move when any type of pressure is applied for a long period of time. For this reason, doctors recommend parents to prevent children from thumb-sucking, fingernail chewing, and forming abnormal swallowing patterns since all these habits can move teeth and jaws into undesirable positions.
Luckily, teeth can be easily straightened with the help of orthodontic treatment at Orthodontic Experts. Traditional orthodontic appliances can move your teeth over time in the desired position and give you a perfect smile. However, as you age, your hormone and bone levels keep changing, moving the position of your teeth throughout life.
That’s when retainers come into place. Depending on your doctor’s recommendation, retainers can be removable or permanent. Retainers hold your teeth in place and maintain the optimum tooth positions. Our orthodontists say the first three months after debonding (getting braces removed) are the most critical, as your teeth are still getting used to the new positions. This period is when it’s easiest for your teeth to move without retainers.
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. If you go a month without wearing retainers, it’s possible your bite may begin to change. Orthodontic Experts’ doctors say your overbite and overjet may start to increase.
Your retainers will most likely be tight if you go a week without wearing them (and even tighter if you go a month without wearing them). If they fit you, then you got really lucky. If you misplace or lose your retainers and notice your teeth are drastically moving without them, give us a call at (847) 749-4340 and our customer-friendly staff will be happy to assist you with any questions you might have. Our diverse staff can communicate with you in English, Spanish, Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, Urdu, and Hindi — and we also don’t take long to answer your phone calls.
