Your teeth need to be kept in place after teeth-straightening procedures like braces. To accomplish that, a dentist or orthodontist could advise wearing a retainer.

Retainers for your teeth are crucial for maintaining long-term dental health and alignment. They allow the bone holding the person's teeth in place to recover while maintaining the position of the teeth after orthodontic treatment.

A retainer is a dental appliance made specifically to fit a person's mouth. Following dental procedures that shift a person's teeth, such as braces, top orthodontists in NYC recommend retainers.

The position of a person's teeth may return to their original alignment if they don't wear a retainer.

But many people believe in many myths about retainers. We are debunking the most common of them and giving you the truth! 

1. MYTH: Retainers are only required to be worn for one to two years.

If you went through orthodontic treatment when you were a teenager and are over 45, it's likely that you once believed this fallacy. Sadly, this simply isn't true. Your teeth are kept in place by retainers. 

So long as you want to keep the effects of your orthodontic treatment, retainers are a must! First, you should wear retainers full-time. Your dentist then decides when to move to night-only operations after conducting a series of retainer checks.

Additionally, there are removable retainers. Compared to the classic Hawley (wired) retainers, these are significantly more comfortable. They are also more resilient thanks to the material's improvement.

2. MYTH: Only if you're losing your teeth they will move after orthodontic treatment.

Our teeth have some kind of muscle memory and will seek their previous positions. If your retainer is not worn constantly after orthodontic treatment, your teeth may start to move. Over time, this may also change how you bite.

Don't be afraid! Your teeth are not falling out as a result of this. If you regularly visit your dentist and maintain proper oral hygiene at home, your teeth shouldn't be in danger of falling out.

Smoking and plaque buildup from improper brushing and flossing can irritate the mouth and result in infection or illness. The roots of your teeth would only degenerate over time in this scenario. Your teeth could fall out as a result of several circumstances. You should go to the dentist for an x-ray if this accurately describes your present oral hygiene practices.

The most likely cause of your teeth shifting is not wearing your retainer after braces. It does not imply that your teeth are erupting!

3. MYTH: Retainers will move your teeth.

Patients who had been months without wearing a retainer usually came again to their dentists with the hopes that a fresh one may straighten back their teeth. This concept is untrue! Retainers hold your teeth in place. You'll notice shifting if you don't wear them, but they can't restore the lost shape of your teeth.

If your teeth moved without a retainer, you have only two options left. First, go back to your dentist and use metal braces or clear aligners to straighten your teeth once more. Second, obtain a fresh retainer while being aware that it will only hold your teeth in the place they are now.

Conclusion

As you can see, retainers are easy to use and helpful when they are! These three crucial retainer facts should be kept in mind:

1. As long as you want to keep your straight teeth, retainers are permanent.
2. Your teeth moving because you are not wearing your retainer does not indicate that they are falling out.
3. Retainers stay put. They serve to prevent your teeth from shifting back to their natural position.