Can you stop wearing your retainer after 10 years?

Many people wonder if they should throw away their retainers. It’s an understandable concern. While they were wearing braces and then a retainer, patients felt like they’d been caring for their teeth for years. They want to do nothing more than brush their teeth and do away with it all. However, that is not the case.

Teeth are held in place by retainers. Even if they’ve been in their original spot for years, teeth want to return to their original position. The dentition of an elderly person might experience changes, such as narrowing of the lower dental arch. This may cause the lower front teeth to become crumpled up. Your teeth may be changing because of these changes, but the only way to prevent them from moving is to retain them.

In certain cases, a permanent retainer may be attached to the back of your teeth by your orthodontist. Those who receive this will wear their retainers throughout the day, even while eating and brushing their teeth. An oral surgeon can only remove the retainer in this case, and when it is removed, a removable retainer is given to the patient to wear at night.

Typically, patients are given retainers, which they are asked to remove while eating or brushing. Retainers have been effective for patients who wear them according to the following schedule:

The First 3-6 Months: Retainers should be worn for a minimum of 22 hours a day during this period. Only when brushing and flossing or eating, should they be removed. Before approving your request to wear them only at night, your orthodontist will monitor your progress.

The First 2 Years: When you have worn your retainers full-time, you can start wearing them only at night.

Your retainers will need to be worn less now. Skipping a few nights here and there isn’t a big deal, and wearing them every other night is a good rule of thumb.

Schedule an appointment and consult with your dentist if you have any queries.