Braces provide a lovely smile, but the retainer keeps it there while encouraging better oral hygiene. Retainers are designed to maintain your teeth in place, opting to not wear it for a lengthy period of time will cause some complications.
In this article, we’ll explore the purpose of a retainer and its benefits.
How Retainers Work
There are two types of retainers: removable and permanent. Removable retainers are worn over the teeth and can be removed as necessary. As determined by your orthodontist, they may be made of metal or molded plastic. Permanent retainers are cemented to the backs of your teeth and are not removable without the assistance of an orthodontist.
The retainer is used to secure your teeth in place following orthodontic treatment. Without a retainer, your teeth may revert to their previous positions, jeopardizing the outcome of your braces.
Read More: How Teeth Retainers Work
5 Benefits of Retainers
If straightening your teeth was a process for you, you’ll want to do all possible to maintain your smile’s alignment. When you initially remove your braces or complete your Invisalign® treatment, you’re likely to be motivated to wear your retainer to safeguard your beautifully aligned smile.
It keeps teeth from shifting
Retainers are designed to maintain the structural integrity of your teeth for the remainder of your life. The first month is crucial for maintaining proper retainer wear. During this period, teeth are more prone to revert to their original crooked shape. As we age, a condition known as natural physiological drift occurs, causing the width of our grins to narrow and the teeth to shift. Wearing retainers will keep you from drifting. You’ll thank yourself later.
It helps with oral hygiene
Straighter teeth are easier to clean. Crooked teeth can create grooves and crevices that harbor bacteria and food debris. By brushing and flossing straight teeth, you will be more likely to keep them clean. The primary reason you need braces to straighten your teeth is not cosmetic, but health-related, as crooked teeth can result in infections, cavities, and chronic problems.
It assists breathing and speech
Your teeth and their alignment affect numerous elements of your daily life, including breathing and communication. It may not be apparent to you until it is pointed out to you, but you may experience difficulty breathing or pronouncing words before having your teeth straightened. Your retainer can assist you in maintaining the posture that aids in breathing and speech and can have a long-term beneficial influence on your breathing.
It’s difficult to remember to wear your retainer, and it’s even more difficult if you’re an adult attempting to remind a self-conscious child to do so. It’s beneficial to write notes, establish a habit, or even treat yourself or your child for remembering to wear their retainer.
There are numerous health benefits, and you will thank yourself in the long term for remembering to wear your retainer and preserving the benefits you worked so hard to achieve. Please make an appointment with us to begin your orthodontic treatment plan.
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It defends against tongue thrust
Some persons protrude their tongue forward when swallowing, speaking, or even when the tongue is at rest. If you do have a tongue thrust, it has the potential to push your teeth forward, resulting in the destruction of your recently straightened smile.
It helps you avoid clenching
Your mouth will feel different after you remove your braces or discontinue wearing Invisalign. Certain individuals clench their jaws when they adjust to new experiences.
Note: Hard plastic retainers, which completely cover your upper or lower teeth, may provide protection and relief from minor tooth grinding and clenching. However, retainers are not meant to resist the battering your teeth suffer when you grind them at night and hence are not the greatest answer. To hold your teeth in place, retainers are often quite thin, as they are not designed to protect them. Most people attempt to utilize a retainer as a night guard resulting in the retainer developing holes and wearing unevenly over time.
Related: Types of Retainers You Should Know About
Additional Tips
- Floss every day. Most dentists and orthodontists feel that flossing regularly is critical for dental health. If you have recently undergone orthodontic treatment, it is critical to maintain your teeth clean to avoid further decay.
- The more closely you follow the dentist’s recommendations, the shorter the period during which you must wear the retainer. It is entirely dependent on the surrounding tissue and bone and their alignment. The most dangerous time period is the first 30 days after braces are removed. You must wear the retainer constantly; after that, they may be worn just at night.
- Finally, as the phrase goes, ‘prevention is preferable to cure.’ If you follow the doctor’s recommendations to the letter, all will be well. As mentioned previously, retainers assist in keeping your teeth aligned and straight to maintain optimal dental health. Additionally, they aid in the prevention of diabetes, speech impairments, snoring, heavy breathing, and improving chewing. What appears to be a burden is a blessing.
Contact Kumra Orthodontics to learn more about retainer benefits
If you’re done with braces and want to keep your smile looking great for the rest of your life, a retainer is a perfect solution. Retainers are simple appliances that can be worn comfortably at night to ensure your teeth stay straight. At Kumra Orthodontics, we offer a variety of retainers designed to meet each patient’s unique needs. Moreover, we provide detailed instructions on how to use and maintain your retainer for years to come. Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of retainers and find out which appliance is best suited for you!
