Teeth shifted after braces, retainer is painful, but will it correct shifting?!

Teeth shifted after braces, retainer is painful, but will it correct shifting?

I got my braces off and wore my clear plastic retainer every night as instructed for the first 4 months. However, it hurt each night and would keep me up/wake me up in the night. So I haven't worn it for about 6 months now. My teeth have shifted and I have the starting of a noticable gap. The retainer still fits, more or less, but is very painful. Reminds me much of the horrid "power chains," but perhaps worse.

My question is, will pushing through the pain and wearing the retainer 24/7 for a while (couple/few months?) cause the teeth to shift back into their post-braces places like an Invisalign tray would do?

for not having worn them for several months, you need to go back to the orthodontist to have your retainer refitted to be positive it will adjust the shifting and your retainer should never be painful if you had your braces on for the appropriate amount of time, the retainer isn't meant to position your teeth further after braces but to keep them in position. there should only be mild discomfort if any and I am an advocate of wearing your retainer as long as possible because as you have found out, your teeth will shift.

But above all, after 6 months without it, GO TO the orthodontist to have it refitted! do not try to force them back with the same old retainer