Do You Have to Wear Your Retainer After Braces? Yes, Here’s What Happens If You Don’t
Key takeaways:
Teeth have a "memory" and can shift back to their original position if you don’t consistently wear your retainer. This is more likely to happen during the first few months after braces.
After braces, you’ll need to wear your retainer in 3 phases that gradually decrease in length over time. But lifelong use — even if only a few nights a week — is essential for maintaining alignment.
Ignoring retainer use can lead to gaps, crooked teeth, or even the need for additional orthodontic treatment.
Your braces journey was a commitment: a promise to yourself for a straighter, healthier smile. But the work doesn’t end when the brackets come off. Wearing your retainer isn’t just a suggestion. It’s the key to maintaining all the progress you’ve made. Without it, your teeth might revert to their old positions, undoing years of effort.
So, why’s your retainer so important? Let’s dive in and explore why you should wear your retainer and what may happen if you don’t.
Why is it important to wear your retainer after braces?
Once your braces come off, your orthodontist will make a retainer for you to wear to maintain your new smile. This is important because your teeth have a “memory.” They remember the position they were in before you began your braces journey. And they can quickly move back to their original position, unless they have help staying in place.
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Wearing your retainer will give your gums and bone time to settle. And that will keep your new smile in the correct position.
How long do you have to wear a retainer?
The simple answer is forever. But there are layers to this. As time passes, you should be OK wearing your retainers less and less. The memories your teeth have start to fade as the bone and gums tighten around your newly straightened smile.
There are 3 phases to keep in mind when determining how long you’ll have to wear your retainers. After each phase is complete, you’ll be able to wear your retainer for less time:
Phase 1: This is the most important phase. During this time, your orthodontist will recommend that you wear your retainers at least 22 hours out of the day — removing for brushing, flossing, and eating. This phase will typically last about 3 months.
Phase 2: During the next 2 years, you’ll only need to wear your retainers every night while you sleep.
Phase 3: If you’ve made it to this phase, you’ve earned the right to wear your retainers every other night while you sleep. You’ll need to keep this routine up for the years to come.
It’s also important to keep in mind that the timeline for these phases may differ for some people. Always consult your orthodontist for their exact recommendations for you.
What happens if you don’t wear your retainer?
If you don’t wear your retainer as instructed, all of the hard work and dedication that you put into your treatment will unfortunately go to waste. Your teeth will remember their original position and slowly start shifting back to it. This can cause several things to happen:
Small spaces may start to appear between your teeth.
Your bite can become misaligned again.
Your smile can start to look crooked.
Teeth will begin to turn and tilt back to their original position.
You may find yourself needing to repeat orthodontic treatment.
How often should you clean your retainers? Here are some tips on how to best care for your retainers and maintain them.
Permanent vs. removable retainers: Find out which ones might work best to maintain your smile.
Caring for your teeth after braces: Learn more about electric versus manual toothbrushes and which one you should use.
Why might your teeth shift after braces?
Your teeth may shift after braces if you don’t wear your retainer. This is mostly due to the exact process of how your teeth are moved in the first place.
To straighten your smile with braces, your teeth move through a process called bone remodeling. This process includes your bone softening and hardening:
The bone softens in the direction that your tooth is being moved to allow an easy transition.
The bone hardens in the areas that your teeth were just moved from. But this hardening process takes time.
When braces are removed, some of the bone surrounding your teeth may still be soft. If you don’t keep your teeth in the right position with retainers, they will attempt to return to their former position and shift through the soft bone.
How long before your teeth start to shift?
Once your braces are removed, you usually won’t see any immediate movement. Small shifts in your teeth may start to appear within the first few weeks if you don’t wear retainers. These shifts usually include small gaps opening up between your front teeth. Other movements may take time.
Larger shifts in your smile will start to occur after 2 to 3 months of no retainer wear. This is when you’ll start to notice changes in the mirror and when you bite down. After this amount of time, your retainers may not fit correctly.
Depending on the severity of your original bite, age, and bone density, your teeth could take up to 2 years to completely revert back to their original position. Correcting this will take another round of orthodontic treatment.
What should you do if you haven’t worn your retainer recently?
If you’ve forgotten to wear your retainer for quite some time, simply try it back on. This will be the first step to know if your teeth have shifted or not.
When you start wearing your retainer again, signs that your teeth may have shifted could include:
Tooth pain and sensitivity: Your retainer may start trying to move your teeth back to their straightened position. This can cause sensitivity to occur due to the speed of movement.
Gum sensitivity: As your teeth shift, your gums may be sore or start to bleed.
Retainers don’t hug your teeth: There’s a chance that there are gaps between your teeth and retainers, or your retainers may not fit at all.
If you notice any of these signs, schedule an appointment with your dentist or orthodontist. You may need additional treatment with clear aligners to straighten your teeth again. If major shifts have occurred, you may need to have a second round of braces to make the full correction.
Frequently asked questions
No. It’s not a good idea to force your retainer back on your teeth after they have shifted. This will cause tooth and gum sensitivity to arise. It’s important to consult your dentist or orthodontist if you believe your retainer isn’t fitting anymore.
It’s possible that your teeth may be damaged from wearing a tight retainer. If your teeth move too fast, you may experience permanent bone and gum damage. It’s important to move your teeth slowly and steadily with the proper orthodontic treatment. This includes clear aligner therapy and traditional braces.
Your dentist or orthodontist may suggest additional orthodontic treatment if your teeth have shifted after braces. This will ensure that your teeth get correctly aligned. A new retainer, whether removable or permanent, will be made at the time the additional treatment is complete.
The bottom line
You have to wear your retainers if you want to preserve your smile after braces. Your teeth have a natural tendency to shift back to their original positions, especially in the months right after treatment. Not wearing your retainer could mean a return to misalignment, gaps, or even needing braces again.
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References
AlMogbel, A., et al. (2023). Clear aligner therapy: Up to date review article. Journal of Orthodontic Science.
Cochrane. (2022). What is the best method for maintaining the correct position of teeth after orthodontic treatment?
Jeon, H. H., et al. (2021). Mechanistic insight into orthodontic tooth movement based on animal studies: A critical review. Journal of Clinical Medicine.
Lyros, I., et al. (2023). Orthodontic retainers—a critical review. Children.
Yu, J. H., et al. (2016). Does orthodontic treatment affect the alveolar bone density? Medicine.
