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Dental hygiene tips for healthy teeth & gums
Do you have to wear a retainer forever after Invisalign?
The retainer prevents your teeth from shifting back to their original positions. Not wearing your retainer after Invisalign braces will eventually affect your teeth look. It can damage your overall dental health.
It is essential to wear a retainer once you’re done with your Invisalign treatment because the retainer prevents noticeable changes in your teeth to maintain your smile.
How long do you have to wear your retainer after Invisalign?
Even though Invisalign moves teeth differently from traditional braces, the result of the treatment is still the same. In addition, you need to wear retainers after any teeth straightening treatment. Your teeth are partly held in place by the surrounding jawbone, but during and after Invisalign treatment, your jawbone softened so that teeth can move into their final positions.
After this process, it is essential to wear an orthodontic retainer. You don’t have to wear your retainer forever. You only have to water it until the new bone is deposited to keep your teeth in place. It takes about 9 to 12 months for your body to build up enough bone to stabilize teeth; hence you have to wear the retainer at least for 9-12 or as your dentist suggests.
What Can You Expect wearing a retainer after 12 Months?
After 12 months of wearing a retainer, you should have enough new bone around your teeth to keep them in a stable position. Therefore, you don’t have to wear a retainer as frequently to maintain your smile.
However, your teeth won’t move much once the jawbone regains new bone. But they can still slightly move forward and inward, but it will not make any difference in your smile.
Lastly, if you face any problem with your retainer, it is best to consult your dentist for proper treatment.