Braces in Franklin, TN, are a huge investment for your kid’s oral health. Straight teeth are much more than an aesthetical concern: they prevent jaw pain caused by jaw misalignment, reduce the chances of tooth decay by making it easier to brush your teeth, and offer your kid a more functional smile.  

In the long run, the dietary restrictions and regular visits to the orthodontist will be very worthwhile. If your teeth remain straight, that is. After getting your braces off, you must wear the retainers your dentists offer you as instructed. In this article, we’ll explain why retainer wear is so important and how often you’ll have to keep them.  

What Are Retainers?

Finally, the day for getting rid of your kid’s braces has come! All the hard work has paid off, as their smile is straight and flawless. However, the path to having straight teeth for the rest of their life isn't quite finished.

Retainers are essential for preserving the outcomes of your child's orthodontic treatment. These custom-made devices hold teeth in their new, corrected locations after braces are removed. They can be made of plastic, metal, or a combination of the two and are either fixed or detachable.

A retainer's main purpose is to stop relapse, the process by which teeth return to their original locations.

Why Teeth Tend to Shift Back

The tissues and ligaments surrounding your teeth can naturally revert to their initial state after the pressure your braces exert to work is released. This is because it takes time for the bone surrounding your teeth to firmly establish itself in its new location.  

Without a retainer, your child’s teeth will return to their pre-braces position, reversing all the work and money you have invested in their orthodontic treatment. Because the bone is still adjusting to the alterations, your child’s teeth will most likely shift during this crucial period. For long-term stability, they must wear their retainer as directed by their orthodontist.

What Are the Benefits of Retainer Wear?

Wearing retainers after braces is crucial to maintaining a straight, well-aligned smile. Retainers can also prevent relapse and ensure long-term success.

Some of them include the following:

1. Providing Time for Bone Stabilization  

Bone remodeling is a natural process in which the bone breaks and rebuilds regularly to stay strong and healthy. When the bone adjusts, it can support the newly aligned teeth in the long run.  

However, this process takes time, even among children whose bones tend to rebuild faster. As the bone repositions and hardens, retainers help keep the teeth in their new places, ensuring the long-term success of your orthodontic treatment.  

2. Maintaining the Alignment of the Teeth

Even after the bone has been repositioned and the crucial period is now behind you, teeth can continue to move depending on eating habits, the resting position of your child’s tongue, and even the position in which they sleep.  

Retainers regularly exert light pressure to align the teeth correctly and address minor shifts. This keeps your child’s smile as straight and attractive as it was before their braces were taken off, helping to preserve the results.

3. Supporting Your Facial Structure  

In addition to straightening teeth, orthodontic therapy can change the structure of the face as a whole by adjusting your kid’s bite—especially if they suffer from a complex condition such as overbites, underbites, or crossbites.

Retainers keep the teeth in their corrected places, maintaining the right alignment of the bite and facial characteristics.

How to Use Retainers Properly  

Carefully following your orthodontist's instructions is crucial to getting the most out of retainers and orthodontic treatment.  

Here are some tips for maintaining and using your child's retainers:  

1. Wear as Directed

The frequency and duration of your child’s retainer wear may vary depending on their case, its success, and their commitment to retainer wear. Still, it’s important to follow the orthodontist’s instructions with commitment.

Often, your little one will have to wear their retainer full-time for the first few months following the removal of their braces and only at night afterward.

2. Maintain Good Oral Hygiene  

Keeping your child’s retainer clean is crucial to prevent tooth decay and maintain optimal oral health.  

They must rinse the removable retainers with lukewarm water daily and clean them with a toothbrush and mild soap. Avoid using hot water, as it might melt and change their customized shape, making it unfit for their smile. For fixed retainers, kids must maintain proper oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly to avoid plaque accumulation.

3. Avoid Certain Foods  

If your kid has a fixed retainer, they should avoid hard or sticky foods that could harm or dislodge it. If the retainers are removable, make sure to always remove them before eating. This helps prevent damage and guarantees correct cleaning.

4. Store Properly

To prevent damage and contamination, keep your removable retainer in its case when not in use. Clean the retainer case regularly, too, as failure to do so may also harm your retainer.

Never store it in a napkin, as it’s easy to misplace it as garbage and throw it away.

Common Myths About Retainers  

There are a number of myths regarding retainers that can cause people to misunderstand how important they are. Let's dispel a few of the most widespread misconceptions:  

• "I Just Have to Wait for a Retainer for a few Months."  

Many people think they don't need to use a retainer after their teeth have gotten used to their new locations. Even years after braces have been taken off, teeth might migrate at any time. Because of this, many orthodontists advise keeping a retainer at night for the rest of one's life.  

• "It’s Uncomfortable to Wear a Retainer."

Wearing a retainer should not be uncomfortable; however, it may take some getting used to. If your child's retainer hurts or is uncomfortable because it does not fit correctly, you should speak with an orthodontist.

• "I Can Skip Wearing my Retainer Occasionally"

Consistency is essential when wearing a retainer.

If you skip days or even hours, your teeth may shift slightly, and these shifts might add up over time. The best method to guarantee that teeth remain in their optimum places is to wear the retainer as directed.  

Get Retainers After Braces in Franklin, TN

Braces are a significant investment in your child’s dental health and appearance, but the importance of retainer wear can’t be overlooked if you want them to maintain their results. They can provide support to their jaw and ensure their smile remains straight for a lifetime.

Even after getting retainers, you should visit Happy Harpeth Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics regularly for routine examinations. We’ll monitor the alignment of their teeth and the state of their retainer. If you suspect your child’s retainer doesn’t fit as it used to, reach out!