If you want to maintain that beautifully aligned smile, your journey doesn’t end with braces. Retainers play a crucial role in keeping your teeth in place after braces have worked their magic. In this article, we’ll delve into the reasons behind the need for braces in the first place, and we’ll explore why you should keep wearing that retainer!
Why Do You Need To Wear A Retainer If You’ve Already Had Braces?
After investing time and effort in wearing braces, it’s natural to wonder why a retainer is necessary. As an orthodontist like our friends at John Redmond Orthodontics can explain, braces serve the primary purpose of realigning teeth and fixing overbites or underbites. However, teeth have a natural tendency to move throughout life, regardless of whether braces have been used. That’s where retainers come into play. Retainers help maintain the corrected alignment achieved by braces and prevent the teeth from shifting back to their original positions over time.
Why Do You Need Braces In The First Place?
There are various reasons why someone may need braces. Orthodontic issues such as misaligned teeth, crowding, gaps, or malocclusions (overbites or underbites) often require intervention to improve both oral health and aesthetics. Braces can provide a controlled and gradual way to shift your teeth into their correct positions, giving you a properly aligned bite and a more appealing smile.
What Is Mesial Drift, And Why Does It Happen?
Mesial drift is a natural phenomenon where teeth tend to move slowly toward the front of the mouth over time. This movement can result in crowding, but why does it occur?
Historically, our ancestors experienced more wear and tear on their teeth due to their diets, which led to more significant gaps between their teeth. As a result, their teeth moved forward, making room for the eruption of wisdom teeth.
However, with modern advances in dental care and diet, our teeth don’t experience the same level of wear, leading to less space for wisdom teeth and causing crowding as they try to emerge.
How Do Braces Help Control Crowding?
Braces play a crucial role in addressing dental crowding by gently guiding your teeth into their proper positions. This process can take several months to years, depending on the individual’s needs. As the braces shift teeth into position, they create a harmonious and balanced smile.
Why Are Retainers Essential For Maintaining The Results Achieved By Braces?
While braces effectively reposition teeth, retainers are essential for keeping them in place after the braces are removed. Once your braces are taken off, you’ll need to wear your retainer continuously for about three months to a year.
After this initial period, you’ll have to wear your retainer every night to preserve the alignment of your teeth for the long term. Wearing a retainer may require a lifetime commitment, but it safeguards the investment of time and effort you put into achieving that beautiful smile.
Remember, it’s never too late to enhance your smile. If you are considering orthodontic treatment or have already undergone braces, reach out to an orthodontist today.