Why does my retainer feel loose

Forgoing a retainer will cause your teeth to return to the same position they were in before you had braces or Invisalign.

They will break down and need to be replaced at regular intervals. There are a couple different options for retainers. Some are made out of wire, some are made out of plastic, and some are a combination of both. Learn how to keep your retainer in great condition for longer. Over time, retainers will wear down and become wide and unfitting.

If you can get it to fit, you may notice that it causes pain when you wear it. This is because the teeth are not in their correct position and your retainer is designed to match that position. When teeth shift occurs, a retainer can place pressure on the teeth. If the night retainers feel too tight, there is a large amount of pressure from the teeth. As a starting point, the night retainers are worn as long as it takes for the teeth to settle in their new position.

In many cases, the teeth will always try to move to some degree. As long as your retainer inserts smoothly without resistance , you can switch to wearing your retainer one overnight per week. John Castronova , Diamond Braces Orthodontist.

Medically Reviewed by: Dr. Usually, this means the retainer has become distorted or misshapen, or that your teeth have shifted, likely due to irregular retainer use. If this happens, you can schedule a visit with your orthodontist for a retainer appointment. The doctor can either adjust your retainer so that it fits again, or fit you for a new retainer to replace the one that no longer fits.

In order to avoid the expense and time commitment of a second round of orthodontic treatment, protect the results of the original treatment by wearing your retainer properly. During the visit, they will examine your teeth and the retainer to identify the issue. If you have a Hawley retainer, the doctor may be able to adjust the appliance to fit in your mouth again. So, remember that retainers are designed to hold teeth in place and teeth should not shift significantly if the retainer is being worn as prescribed.

What we really want our patients and parents to understand is that this is a lifetime commitment. Protect that great smile, wear your retainers! Nothing is permanent in orthodontics.