Are you nearing the end of your treatment with Nu Smile Aligners? Surely, you are excited about finally reaching the finish line! However, as amazing as it will be to enjoy your healthier, more attractive teeth, that does not mean you do not have any more work to do. You will have to maintain your results by wearing a retainer! Why is it so important to wear a retainer, and how long will you have to do so? This blog post provides some important information.
Why Is Wearing a Retainer So Important?
Your teeth are not directly embedded in your jawbone. Rather, they are connected to the bone via stretchy connective tissues known as ligaments. The ligaments provide your teeth with a natural capacity for small movements. While that ability to move made your orthodontic treatment successful, it can also work against you. After the pressure of your clear aligners is gone, your teeth could start to drift back into their former positions! This happens because teeth have a sort of “memory,” making them likely to make backwards progress at the end of orthodontic treatment.
A retainer’s job is to prevent that from happening. It is a small device that holds the teeth in their new positions.
The Average Retainer Wear Timeline
There are different types of retainers. Some are fixed to the teeth, but many are removable. If you have the latter type, you will initially need to wear it for 20 – 22 hours each day (the same amount of time that you had to wear your Nu Smile Aligners). This period of retainer wear may last a few months.
Eventually, as your teeth solidify into their new positions, your dentist may inform you that you only need to wear your retainer at night. Later on, you might need to wear it for just a few nights each week. If it ever starts to feel uncomfortably tight, that is an indication you are not using it enough.
It is important to note that even though your retainer wear time can be gradually reduced, you should never completely stop using it.
Keeping Your Retainer in Good Shape
Since you will need to use a retainer indefinitely, it is wise to do all you can to keep yours in good shape! Here is how you can extend its lifespan:
- Thoroughly clean it at least once a day.
- Only place your retainer in your mouth when your teeth are clean.
- Store it securely in its case whenever you are not using it.
- Do not eat while wearing your retainer.
- Be careful not to store your retainer in a place where pets or small children could get ahold of it.
- Handle it carefully so you do not accidentally break it.
With proper care, retainers can last for several years!
A retainer can help your teeth stay in great shape throughout your life! Be sure to use it as directed so you do not accidentally undo the results of your Nu Smile treatment.
Meet the Practice
At our four convenient locations in New Jersey and New York, our team provides the innovative and convenient Nu Smile Aligner system, which is just as good as Invisalign but without the huge price tag! To learn more about this treatment and what to expect from it, get in touch with us to ask questions or request a consultation.