Once you’re finished your orthodontic treatment it’s important that you don’t just disregard your retainer. It’s actually one of the most important parts of your treatment.

A retainer is a plastic fixture with metal wiring that is designed to fit snugly within your mouth and maintain the position of your teeth after orthodontic treatment. While you do have straight teeth now at the end of your orthodontic treatment, your teeth can actually shift again if you do not wear your retainer.

We know that you’ll be rejoicing in the freedom of not having to wear braces and a retainer can feel like another ‘metal thing’ you need to wear. It is however very important to consider this a compulsory part of treatment – unless you want to wear orthodontics like braces again in the future.

THE POSTURE OF YOUR LIPS AND MOUTH CAN MOVE YOUR TEETH

Some people actually have a habit of breathing in a particular way which can change the posture of the face. The ideal position of your chin, mouth and tongue is with your lips closed, your tongue against the back of your upper teeth and your teeth together at a point that feels natural. The position of the mouth actually makes a big difference to your smile – and your retainer will help keep your teeth in place even if you have the wrong posture.

Mouth breathers are at a higher risk of relapse and getting their crooked teeth back as breathing with your mouth open does nothing to support the position of your teeth. We encourage you to wear your retainer as well as consciously make the effort to breathe with your mouth closed.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DIDN’T WEAR MY RETAINER AND NOW I HAVE CROOKED TEETH?

Many adults who have undergone braces don’t wish to go through the ordeal of metal brackets again. If you did neglect to wear your retainer and now want to get your winning smile back – Invisalign is a great choice.

Invisalign is the perfect choice for adults who want to improve their smile as the treatment is made out of a series of invisible aligners which are also removable. This means you can remove them whenever you want to eat, when you’re going on a date or when you’re simply out and having fun. They are subtle for when you’re at work and barely noticeable to all those around you.

Here at Excel Orthodontics in West Lakes, Glenelg, Warradale and Nuriootpa we also offer other subtle orthodontic treatments such as Incognito and Ceramic braces.

YOU SHOULD NOT COMMIT TO REVISIONAL ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT UNLESS YOU ARE READY TO WEAR A RETAINER

There’s no point paying money to have further orthodontic treatment if you’re just not going to wear your retainer again at the end of treatment. You need to know that your retainer is the sole tool keeping your teeth straight after you finish your orthodontic treatment and if you don’t wear it you won’t keep your straight smile.

If you have any other questions about retainers, Invisalign or braces please click here to make an enquiry.