At the completion of active orthodontic treatment all braces will be removed from your mouth. At this point, the teeth have been moved to create the best possible smile and bite!
Just because the braces are not on your teeth anymore does not mean the teeth will stop moving. Teeth will always shift, causing bite changes and crowding. To prevent this shifting we ask that you wear retainers. There are several types of retainers, ones that can be glued to the back of your teeth, or ones that are removable which you can take in and out of your mouth.
When you first get your braces off you should wear your retainers all the time, except when you eat or brush your teeth. Typically, we ask you do this for the first 6 months out of braces. The doctor will tell you when you can reduce the amount of time that you need to wear your retainers. Usually, after the first 6 months you’ll wear your retainers after dinner and to bed (about 12 hours per day).
When you remove your retainers to brush your teeth, you should brush your retainers also. Use only cool water and a toothbrush (no toothpaste). Always store your retainers dry, never let them soak for more than 15 minutes. Be careful with colored mouthwash and mouthwash containing alcohol. These will alter the color and weaken your retainers.
We will continue to see you for 18 months to make sure your retainers continue to fit well. For all retainer visits it is very important that you bring the retainers into the office for adjustments. Once retention visits are no longer necessary, we still recommend you wear your retainers. You may only need to wear them a fraction of the time you once did, but never stop wearing them altogether.
Remember, teeth will always shift. The only way to prevent shifting is to wear your retainers indefinitely! Please visit this website