Do I need to wear my retainer every night?

Do I need to wear my retainer every night?

Do I need to wear my retainer every night?

Most retainers need to be worn every night, but not everyone has the same situation. The retainer that you wear at night guarantees that the work and money spent on your braces hold up. The purpose of retainers is to maintain the straightness of your teeth as time goes on. 

If you skip your retainer for even a night, depending on how crowded your teeth are and what’s causing them to be uneven, teeth can shift as quickly as a single night of not wearing your retainer. Some people can go weeks without their teeth shifting, but for the thousands of dollars and years that come with wearing braces, it isn’t worth taking the risk.

Some people are afraid to wear their retainers at night because of possible damage to either their teeth or the retainer itself. Since it’s designed to be in your mouth for a certain period of time with the goal of moving your teeth, the odds of the retainer being damaged from overnight use is more than unlikely. 

If you take care of your retainer properly then you don’t need to worry about damage. There is fear surrounding the idea that, if left in too long, the retainer will cause unwanted tooth decay. 

Damage to the teeth in this manner can be avoided by practicing caution and properly caring for your retainer in relation to your oral health.

• Brush teeth before bed – this minimizes the the food, sugar and plaque left on your teeth to be trapped beneath and between a retainer. 
• Clean retainer after waking up – assuring that your retainer is clean following every use makes future application less of a hassle. Also be sure to use what you are directed to clean your retainer. Be sure that you’re not using chemicals that will either damage the shape of your retainer or affect your health when you put it back in. 
• Take retainer out before eating – This ensures that food isn’t stuck inside your retainer throughout the day, especially it’s not cleaned as frequently as it could be. 

These habits make it easier to manage wearing retainers at night. Keeping both the retainer and the teeth clean can give you a healthy process. If you have a retainer and you’re instructed to wear it at night by your Dentist, then you should do so. 

Most of the rules and regulations apply to clear, removable retainers, but there are other kinds that also should be cared for properly. No matter what kind you have, following the guidelines given to you by your dentist can make your experience better. 

About Select Dental Office

Select Dental Office is a dental provider that has the perfect Torrance endodontist for you. Our smile team is dedicated to ensuring our patients receive the best quality care and services. To schedule an appointment click here. Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram.