If you’ve recently noticed that your teeth are beginning to seem crooked, despite you having already undergone orthodontic treatment in the past, you might be feeling worried and hopeless about the future of your smile. Unfortunately, orthodontic relapse is something that happens; however, teeth can be re-straightened once more with the help of your orthodontist. But you might be wondering if it’s something you could even handle yourself with the help of an old retainer. Keep reading to learn more about why old retainers aren’t usually able to re-straighten teeth as well as your orthodontist can.
Why Old Retainers Aren’t a Reliable Re-Straightening Option
Orthodontic relapse occurs when teeth that have undergone orthodontic treatment begin to revert to their original and incorrect positions. This is often the result of patients not wearing their retainer immediately following treatment, but can also result from all sorts of things, including even just the daily forces of biting and chewing. This is part of why retainers are a crucial part of the orthodontic process; they keep your new smile intact moving forward!
But it’s important to note that unlike braces or clear aligners, retainers aren’t designed to apply gentle pressure to your teeth to reposition them; rather, they’re meant to help preserve orthodontic results and prevent relapse. And since they don’t apply the steady force needed to make major changes to your smile, you shouldn’t count on them to realign your teeth permanently.
However, if you’ve neglected your retainers only for a few weeks or months, be sure to at least try them on to see if they still fit; they still might be able to help undo any minor shifting that’s recently occurred. If a retainer doesn’t fit snugly or causes pain, don’t try to forcefully wear it, and be sure to contact your orthodontist for assistance!
Tips for Ensuring Your Retainer Lasts
Your retainer is more-or-less a type of insurance policy for your smile after undergoing orthodontics; by wearing it as instructed, you’ll be certain to get your money’s worth and the resulting beautiful smile! That said, here are some tips to keep yours in great condition:
- Brush your teeth after each meal to ensure that your retainer isn’t needlessly blemished when being worn.
- Never eat while wearing your retainer, as this could damage or disfigure it.
- Keep your retainer in its storage case when it isn’t being worn for its protection and to prevent it from being lost.
- Contact your provider as soon as you encounter a problem or lose your retainer.
It can be alarming and disheartening to suffer from orthodontic relapse, but it isn’t something that you must helplessly endure. However, you shouldn’t count on an old retainer to capably reverse the issue; count on your orthodontist instead!
About the Practice
Our team at Simply Orthodontics Milford is thrilled to serve patients and families in the area under the leadership of Dr. Alan Carlotto and Dr. Sam Alkhoury. We’re proud to offer a wide range of orthodontic services including both traditional braces and clear aligners such as Invisalign. If you have any questions or concerns about orthodontic relapse, or you need to schedule a visit for you or a loved one, don’t hesitate to contact us today for assistance: (508) 473-2002.