If you’ve completed your braces or Invisalign treatment, you may jump up and down because you’ve finally achieved the straight teeth and healthy smile you’ve been longing for. Unfortunately, your work is not over. To maintain your results, you’ll need to wear a retainer. Without one, your teeth will gradually move back to their original position. This can be very frustrating, especially after you’ve spent a lot of time and money on your new smile.

How Often Should I Wear My Retainer

Initially, Dr. Sims will ask you to wear your retainer quite often. You’ll need to keep it in your mouth all the time at first. Once you’ve done so for 3 to 6 months, he may allow you to wear it only at night, when you’re sleeping. Chances are you’ll need to wear it at night for at least two years. After 3 years, things will be a bit more flexible. You may wear your retainer every other night and if you miss some nights on occasion, your teeth will probably remain in their optimal position.

Why Your Retainer May Hurt

Every now and then, a patient will come to our office and tell us that their retainer hurts when they wear it. If you experience pain with your retainer in your mouth, your retainer has changed or your teeth have shifted. Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to figure out what happened. Your retainer is either damaged or worn out and you need a replacement. Or the worse scenario, your retainer is fine but your teeth have moved.

When a patient returns to our office with a retainer that hurts when they wear it, there are only two possible explanations. Either the retainer has changed, or the teeth have moved. Generally, it is simple to determine which has occurred. In some cases, retainers are damaged, distorted, or “wear out” with daily use. In most cases, however, the retainer is fine, but the teeth have shifted.

Contact Sims Orthodontics Today

If you have further questions or would like to schedule an appointment at our Pensacola office, don’t hesitate to call us at 850-477-7715. We look forward to hearing from you!