Should I wear my retainer if its tight?
As long as your retainer doesn't hurt and still fits over your teeth, you can wear it – even if it feels tight. Your teeth may have slightly shifted, and you may need to wear your retainer longer each day to prevent your teeth from moving.
To make a long answer short, no. Because retainers in Glenpool aren't made to apply steady force over time in order to change the position of your teeth, they are not an ideal solution to realign them. However, they may be able to help by making minor adjustments to the position or your teeth and your bite.
A New Retainer May Hurt at First
It's the retainer's job to keep them where they're supposed to be. A tight retainer may hurt a bit if teeth have shifted, as it is made to not necessarily move teeth but simply keep them in the proper place.
Rule of thumb is: you have to wear your retainers for as long as you want them to be straight. Your teeth begin to shift if you don't wear retainers at night every day. If you go a week without wearing retainers, you may notice a small amount of relapse, small spaces, or rotations.
In most cases, a tight retainer won't damage your teeth or gums. You may experience some discomfort during your first few days of retainer treatment. However, your discomfort will likely go away after a few days. If things don't improve, or your pain worsens, you should talk to your orthodontist about your concerns.
Ideally, retainers start showing results within 3-4 months, and you can see a slight difference in your smile.
A few days or a week: After a very short absence of a few days or a week, it's likely that your retainer will still fit and be able to fix any minor changes in your smile. A few weeks or a month: After a slightly longer period of a few weeks or a month, your retainer may not feel comfortable to wear.
The easiest solution for this problem is to go back to wearing your retainer full-time for a few days to a few weeks (depending on how much time you have missed wearing it) to get back on track. The teeth will generally mold back to the shape of the retainer and the soreness and tightness will go away.
The only time they should be removed is to brush and floss or to eat. Your orthodontist will continue to monitor your progress before approving you to wear them at night only. The First 2 Years: After your initial time of full-time wear, you will be able to start wearing your retainers during sleep only.
A few months or years: Don't even attempt to wear an old retainer if it's been several months or years! It's very unlikely to fit, and it could become stuck, cause pain, and even potentially damage your teeth and tissues. Instead, schedule an appointment with your orthodontist and take your old retainer with you.
Should I force my retainer on if it doesn't fit?
If you have to force your retainer to fit, you shouldn't wear it: forcing a retainer that doesn't fit could damage your teeth or the retainer. Try gently putting the retainer back in your mouth: if you have to force it, then it no longer fits and you should not try to put it in your mouth.
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