How often should I wear my retainers?!
Question: My dentist said to wear it full time for 2 months then at nights from that point on (for 2-3 years)... but I know I can't wear it full time because I have to brush and eat food through out the day, so how long could I have my retainers off before my teeth starts to move.
Answers: My dentist said to wear it full time for 2 months then at nights from that point on (for 2-3 years)... but I know I can't wear it full time because I have to brush and eat food through out the day, so how long could I have my retainers off before my teeth starts to move.
You can take your retainers off for 30 minutes to an hour while you eat. Even up to a couple of hours will probably not allow your teeth time to move. You will know if they start to get out of alignment, because you will notice the discomfort as they shift.
Just take them out while you eat, brush your teeth and retainers, and put them back in. Oh, and be sure not to leave them behind at a restaurant-- it's a pain ;)
take em out, eat, put em back in. same thing for brushing. take em out, brush, put back in. you have loads of time before they start moving (like 3-5 weeks) but, still keep em on for the maximum time!
good luck!
Follow your ortho's directions! I cannot stress how important this is. Take out your retainers to eat, but try to brush your teeth before you put them back in. If you don't, you are just trapping and encouraging bacteria to eat at your teeth. I had braces, and I've been wearing retainers for over 1 year. If you stop wearing retainers after, say, a year, your teeth will slowly but surely return to their pre-braces positions. Ask your ortho how long to wear them. You will have wasted all the money spent straightening if you let your teeth return to their original positions.