Didnt wear my retainer ... what now?

[Liza]

Try hot tea.

I took 2 Aleve and had some tea. The pain is subsiding a little. I only hope that as time goes on the retainer won't hurt anymore. Today is my first day returning to them.

Good Luck to all.

[Cameron]

Hello,im 14 if i take my retaiber out for a little while how long should i take it out for hahaha this forum is fricking old

[Molly]

Ive noticed that the pain subsides slightly if you take a hot shower. I was dumb like the rest of you, and didnt wear it, and i'm now in terrible pain and wearing them on my birthday.:/ I took them out this morning for maybe 15 minutes and they started shifting back. Someone on here said it's really bad to take them on and off before they're "stable." I hope that helps.

[luis]

alright so i had my braces for two years and never had a problem. after my braces i got a retainer...the bulky plastice ones and the ortho said to wear them 24/7. i didnt. i only wore them at night and suprisingly the ortho said im doing perfect with my retainers! now it has been over 5 months that i havent wore them and now the top one wont fit. a new tooth grew in and is preventing the retainer from snapping in all the way on the left side. also there is a little bit of shifting on the left side but nothing noticeable. the bottom one fits but hurts but im pretty sure that the pain will go away like it always does. wut shood i do about the top retainer?? plzz help!

[Heaths]

Had braces for three years, wore my retainer religiously until my wisdom teeth came in. I finally got my wisdom teeth pulled, but now my retainer doesn't fit over the two last back teeth! What should I do?

[Sean]

Explore your options but it ultimately comes down too your going to have to go back too a orthodontist. ive has the same problem and I have an appointment next week to explore my options as well.

[Aubree]

I had my braces for two years and have had them off for about two years also. I have worn my retainers for about a year, but then stopped stupidly. I haven't worn them for about a year also and my top teeth only one tooth slightly shifted on top of the other. But my bottoms shifted a lot, my retainer on top fits perfect but the bottom I can pop on if I hold pressure on it. If I wear my retainers 24/7 will they shift back to normal? If so how long should I keep them on for wearing them 24/7? Please Help! Thanks!

[Chloe]

I am 16 years old and I have just put my retainer in after about a year of not wearing them. I had braces before (train track on top and bottom) for about 2 years and a retainer before that to align my jaw. Since I have just put them in, the top teeth hurt a little but the retainer pretty much fits. The bottom retainer, however, only covers about half of the teeth on the bottom. WHAT SHOULD I DO? My parents agreed to getting me braces again but so far nothing has been done about it and I am getting frustrated with how much the bottom teeth have moved. If I wear them full time, will they eventually move back or am I stuck with these until (if ever) I get new braces?

[Pamela Waterman]

If you look at comment #159, an orthodontic assistant who forgot to wear her own retainer said that her orthodontist said, try to fit it on and wear it and see what happens.

[salma]

hi>>so i went to the orthodontist last week (3rd march) and he said that i should wear my retainer 24/7 for a month,even through the pain.and should go bak to him in a month and he will fit a permanant wire at the bak of my teethh so i dont hav to wear retainers ever again. as for my top teeth, 2 are jutting out, so he said i need braces for my fronth 8 teeth for a few months, and after that he will fit the permanant wire at the back. i wish to try the damon clear braces . has anyone had that before? im without braces for 7 years now.

[Missy]

Ok so 12 years ago I got braces 2 years later my teeth were perfect. 10 years later I have never once wore my retainer and now obviously my teeth have shifted. My bottom teeth are pretty good but the top even though they have stayed very straight, they have begun to seperate a bit leaving a noticeable space between two of my teeth. Last night I decided I would try a last ditch effort before going into an orthodontist and getting braces again. I desired to try on my old retainer. It fits but is slightly tight, not too bad though. If I wear this retainer 24/7 for a few months will my space close back up again, even after all these years?

[ninjablader]

try putting it in boiling water, it makes it fit easier with less pain.

[Ayla]

Arnold Biffle wrote:

I am an Orthodontist and see this on a weekly basis; and, yeah, we know when you're lying but most of us won't call you on it unless you try to blame us in an attempt to get a free retainer. Anyway, if the retainer won't go in or is extremely painful, see your orthodontist. Don't be embarrassed. If you own up to it, he or she will probably go easy on you. Sometimes, wearing the retainer FULL TIME for a few weeks will get them back in place. If not, you may have a few options; braces again (invisalign usually works well for this)or a new retainer to make some minor corrections or hold what you have. If you only wear it at night it's just going to hold things where they are. Of course you always have the option of not doing anything and just watching them get worse, but you probably wouldn't be on here asking if you were interested in doing that.

Does full time mean all day or could I leave it off for school and just put on when I get home and to bed?

[Pamela Waterman]

This really means all day/evening/night except taking it out to eat and brush. (Maybe about 22 hours total.)

[Carlin]

I've done it too. Shoot me! I knew better but did it anyways. Now, my underbite is coming back. Ive had three different retainers because mine kept breaking because I wore it every night. I have odd shaped teeth so that's why it breaks. The pain is dreadful. I've probably not wore it in eight months. I have put it in a few times during this eight month period. But, hurts so bad I end up taking it out. I'm going to make it work though.

[DrGChapman]

I have been practicing Orthodontics for over 20 years and have seen over 14,000 patients in that time. Retention is the most important aspect of orthodontic treatment. I discuss retention at our new patient exam with every patient and stress the importance of the long term maintenance of new teeth positions. We must remember that we are living and aging beings. Things change with time and they generally don't get better with age. I use the analogy of buying a new car. Looks the best it will ever look the day you buy it and before you leave the lot. If you do nothing, it will deteriorate more quickly than if you take good care of it and maintain it.

The orthodontic community has stressed for years now the need for long term retention. Perfection does not stay perfect on its own, it requires effort. I will phrase this another way: wear your retainers as long as you care. I follow my retention patients as long as they will come see me as I feel it is that important. You must realize that every patient is different and has different retention issues. As we follow patients we recommend varying amounts of wear of retainers based on that particular patient's situation.

Good news for those who have fallen off the retainer wagon. We have many ways to correct your lost smile today. I prefer to use some Invisalign type products as they are easy to use, no dietary restrictions and are quite good at aligning front teeth as long as the back teeth and bite are fine, which they usually are.

Take care of that smile, it is your calling card every time you meet someone new. A smile opens doors.

[AllyK]

Chloe wrote:

I am 16 years old and I have just put my retainer in after about a year of not wearing them. I had braces before (train track on top and bottom) for about 2 years and a retainer before that to align my jaw. Since I have just put them in, the top teeth hurt a little but the retainer pretty much fits. The bottom retainer, however, only covers about half of the teeth on the bottom. WHAT SHOULD I DO? My parents agreed to getting me braces again but so far nothing has been done about it and I am getting frustrated with how much the bottom teeth have moved. If I wear them full time, will they eventually move back or am I stuck with these until (if ever) I get new braces?

You are soo lucky to have parents who agreed to give you new braces! Do you have any idea how much they cost! I would stop complaining because they may need time to prepare financially, and if you feel they are ignoring the situation calmly tell them that you are serious about getting another braces and promise to be more responsible with your retainer this time.

I am 17 and had braces 4 years ago off, and went on a trip and didn't wear my retainer for 10 nights. Now it's extremely painful to put back in but I'm gonna tough it out if I can. I can't imagine not wearing it for a year0.o

If you can get the retainer on and bear the pain I would try wearing it 24/7 (except meals of course) for about a month, then switch to every night. When you feel ready (prolly 3 months but maybe a little less) wear it almost every night but skipping a night for say a sleep over is okay. Then after prolly 6 months you can try every second night, but if you feel pain putting it in after the night skipped switch back to every night and only miss a night here and there. This proccess will be painful and annoying but worth it. And will save you family thousands!:good luck!

[AllyK]

Aubree wrote:

I had my braces for two years and have had them off for about two years also. I have worn my retainers for about a year, but then stopped stupidly. I haven't worn them for about a year also and my top teeth only one tooth slightly shifted on top of the other. But my bottoms shifted a lot, my retainer on top fits perfect but the bottom I can pop on if I hold pressure on it. If I wear my retainers 24/7 will they shift back to normal? If so how long should I keep them on for wearing them 24/7? Please Help! Thanks!

Hey! I know you posted almost a month ago but I'm hoping I can still help! I it pops off I would go see the ortho ASAP! Don't be embarrassed they see it a couple times a week! And he will give you knew retainers(invisaline) or maybe new braces unfortunately! Of you can get it on and it stays wear it 24/7 for a month. Then switch to nights. If you feel any pain putting it in after skipping the days put it back in 24/7 for 2weeks. Then do the night trial again. Wear it at night EVERY night for 3-6minths. After that wear it almost every night but you can skip one here and there. You can TRY wearing it every second night, I can not, but some people can, do try it out, but if you feel any pain puttin it in after skipping a night, p back to only missing a night here and there!:) take some Advil and suck up the pain if your serious about it! If not or you can't stand the pain go to the ortho, they will help! But it will cost you $$$$$

[liz castillo]

well i just broke one of my retainers yesterday and i was wondering how much one will cost?

[jdjd]

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