Ok i have braces and im going to get them off soon and i was wanting to know about how long you have to keep on the retainer ?
2007-12-29 11:54:27 · 9 answers · asked by c (: 1 in Health ➔ Dental
It all depends on how well your teeth were straightened while you had the braces on. It also depends on if you follow the instructions your orthodontist gives you about how often to wear the retainer. When I got my braces off I had to wear the retainer 24/7 except when eating and brushing. I did that and after two months my orthodontist told me that I only have to wear it at night. My sister, on the other hand, got her braces off and hardly ever wears her retainer. It's been a year and he keeps telling her to wear it 24/7, but she refuses to listen.
2007-12-29 12:54:18 · answer #1 · answered by ☮♥☺♪♫☼ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't HAVE to wear the retainer at all!
Of course, you don't have to have straight teeth, either....
So the answer is usually "as long as you want them to stay where they are now."
Teeth have a "memory" and want to go back ot wherever they were. If you leave the retainer off, they will move - the longer you leave it off, the more they move. Eventually they will often move to a point where you can't even get the retainer on (this would be like not wearing it for 2 months or something) and then you'd need a new one or even new braces.
good luck!
2007-12-29 20:03:19 · answer #2 · answered by drswansondds 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Generally, most people need to wear their retainer for at least a year in order for their teeth to stay in place. It depends on your teeth. Wear it constantly after you get your braces off because that's when your teeth are most likely to move back to their previous state before braces. The more you keep it on, the quicker you won't them. I stopped having to wear my retainer in the daytime after a few months but I've been wearing them when I sleep for about 4 years.
2007-12-29 20:05:22 · answer #3 · answered by Jessica C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
however long the orthodontist tells you. Don't mess around or you could end up in braces again. your teeth aren't used to being "caged" so they want to move. The retainer is to help your teeth stay where they are now. So SMILE and wear the retainer.
2007-12-29 20:00:06 · answer #4 · answered by john 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I got my braces off,my orthodontist told me the minimum amount of time for the retainer is six months to a year, but he said preferably he would like me to wear it forever! He said this way, my bite would never be off or out of alignment.
2007-12-29 20:06:31 · answer #5 · answered by butterflydsc 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry about the retainer! You'll live. (it's either retainer or crooked teeth...)
2007-12-29 20:33:58 · answer #6 · answered by Riflegirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask your Orthodontist. I stopped wearing mine and my teeth moved back.
2007-12-29 20:01:23 · answer #7 · answered by dr.whooo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sometimes you have to wear them all the time for so many months but i only have to wear them at night for the rest of my life or they will go back. whatever you doc. tells ya. good luck and congrats!
2007-12-29 21:57:56 · answer #8 · answered by lovely lady 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
forever. im not kidding. thats what my orthodontist said. (i dont really wear and nothing bad happened yet)
2007-12-29 22:31:57 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋