How long am i supposed to keep my retainers?!
Question: I'v had my retainers for about 2 years now well i've only worn them for about half of that. But my question is how long am i supposed to keep them on, another year, months, what? my dentist didn't tell me cause i went to a differet one to get my braces after i moved cause no one would take them out but this one. They didn't tell me how long to keep them in for except how to clean them and take them out before i eat. to let you know, i had a cross-bite and my two front teeth were overlaping each other.
Answers: I'v had my retainers for about 2 years now well i've only worn them for about half of that. But my question is how long am i supposed to keep them on, another year, months, what? my dentist didn't tell me cause i went to a differet one to get my braces after i moved cause no one would take them out but this one. They didn't tell me how long to keep them in for except how to clean them and take them out before i eat. to let you know, i had a cross-bite and my two front teeth were overlaping each other.
Of course, your orthodontist would be the one with the right answer, but I see that you moved.
The "Rule of Thumb" is to wear the retainers for twice as long as you were in active appliances. That means, if you had braces on for 2 years, you would wear the retainers for 4 years. After that, it is a good idea to try them in at least once a week. If they go in tight, wear them again for at least a week until they go in easily once more. Keep doing this until you are either sick to death of messing with them or until you lose or break the retainers.
i have the same question!
Keep wearing them until your orthodontist tells you otherwise. If you are unsure, call the office.
You should ideally keep using them for years. Maybe 3-4 more years. The reason is that as soon as you stop wearing them your teeth will again start to move and in 5-10 years may become crooked again. That's what happened to me. So if you want to keep your teeth straight keep wearing them
you should keep them for as long as possible. the reason is because your teeth are constantly shifting, and then your teeth would go right back to the way they were and you don't want to have to get braces again. wearing them at night once or twice a week should do the trick but i recommend keeping it just in case.