If your retainer feels tight every night to the point of discomfort, talk to your orthodontist. In most cases, this happens when you move to a nightly schedule too quickly. When you see your orthodontist, they'll likely recommend that you return to wearing your retainer for part of the day until your teeth adjust.
When a retainer feels tight and makes your teeth sore, most of the time it is because you have not been wearing it enough. Even a slight movement that is hard to visually see with your eyes can be enough to make your retainer feel tight.
It's normal for a retainer to be uncomfortable, tight, or a bit painful for the first few days of wearing it. Even if the discomfort extends to a full week, it's still usually not a cause for alarm. However, if you experience retainer pain for more than a full week, it's time to call your orthodontist.
Your retainer will gradually loosen and become more comfortable as you wear it. After a while, you'll barely notice you have it in. That said, retainers are not supposed to be so tight that they're uncomfortable after you've been wearing them for some time.
It's natural for your retainer to hurt for at least the first day after being fitted, as your mouth adjusts to the novel sensation. Discomfort typically only lasts for four to five days – a week at most. If your retainer is causing you discomfort beyond this, it's best to book a consult with your orthodontist.
A too-tight retainer can damage your teeth and the surrounding gums. The retainer also could become stuck, which would constitute a dental emergency for which you would need immediate care. A retainer that is too loose won't damage the teeth like forcing in a tight retainer can.
Ultimately, your retainers are made to keep your teeth in place, not to move them, but they may be able to slightly shift your teeth back in the right circumstances. If it has been too long and your old retainer no longer fits snugly, you should contact your dentist in order to come up with a solution.
If your retainers feel tight, but not painful, keep wearing them full time over the next few days until they start to feel okay. Hopefully, they will gently nudge your teeth back in line. If your retainers are painful, or you can't get them to fit over your teeth, don't force them.
You will find that your retainers will feel loose after a few weeks. This is expected and desirable. We just don't want them so loose that they fall out of your mouth when talking. Do not flip your retainers up and down.
If your retainer is properly fitted, it will feel slightly snug at first and progressively relax up to alleviate any discomfort. If it does not fit comfortably, schedule an appointment with your orthodontist to get assistance. Retainers should be worn only if they fit comfortably.
To help make your retainers more comfortable while your mouth adjusts, a simple ice pack will do the trick. Ice is an effective numbing agent and helps reduce inflammation – plus it's cheap and simple to use. Iced water is another easy and effective alternative.
Your retainer keeps your teeth from moving right back to where they came from. That takes some pressure, and pressure causes pain.
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.
Here's the short answer: As long as you want your teeth to remain straight, you should be wearing your retainers. It is recommended you wear your retainer at least 12 hours out of every day for the first eight weeks following the completion of your treatment.
DO NOT REMOVE/POP OUT YOUR RETAINERS WITH YOUR TONGUE! The wire will break, which will necessitate a new retainer. After approximately 6 months you will be able to wear your retainers at night only. Night time wear is determined by the doctor and is based on the stability of your teeth.
The retainer, after compeltion of orthodontic treatment, is to insure that the teeth don't shift. It is usually worn at night. Your son should be able to close his mouth all the way. The retainer should not interfere with the bite and should be comfortable.
When you forget to wear your retainers for one night or a few nights in a row, you may find that they are a little tight when you first put them in. This is ok as long as they begin to feel right again after a few hours. The teeth can often shift back into place when they are only slightly shifted.
The First 2 Years: After your initial time of full-time wear, you will be able to start wearing your retainers during sleep only. From the Third Year to the Rest of Your Life: Now, you can wear your retainers a little bit less. Skipping an occasional night or two is no big deal.
So, Can Retainers Realign Teeth? In short, the answer is no. While braces are designed to place just enough pressure to guide your teeth into the desired positions, retainers are meant to simply hold your teeth in place.
Although many patients wear their retainers nightly for life, as time goes on, it's generally okay to skip a few nights of wearing your retainer. The best way to ensure your teeth remain aligned, though, is to continue wearing your retainer at least every couple of nights, if not every night.
It doesn't matter if you've had work done five weeks ago or 10 years ago, your teeth will shift back and they can begin shifting back within as little as three days depending on your genetics and how severe the work of your teeth straightening was. Our best advice is to always keep a backup retainer on hand.
If you force it into place, it could become stuck, damage your teeth, and cause problems for your roots and jaw. Instead, make an appointment with an orthodontist. They may be able to adjust your old retainer, or you may need to get a new one altogether.
Never pull on the center of the wire. You should always be sure that your retainers are seated completely. Do not allow them to “flop” around. Don't leave your retainers in a hot car or put in hot water (such as a boiling them or putting them into the dishwasher.)
Do soak your retainer in a solution of water and hydrogen peroxide. Make a 50/50 solution of warm water and 3% hydrogen peroxide. This solution helps take away yellowness in your retainer and kills bacteria, but it doesn't remove plaque build-up.