Are you approaching the finish line of your Invisalign treatment? You can be proud of yourself for complying with instructions and achieving a straighter, healthier smile. Once you finish with all of your aligners, though, you still have some work to do. Your orthodontist will provide you with a retainer so you can maintain your results. Exactly how long will you need to wear a retainer after Invisalign? This blog post explains some relevant information.
The Importance of Your Retainer
Orthodontic treatment is successful because teeth have a natural capacity for movement. Orthodontic appliances leverage that capacity in order to improve your oral health and function. Without the slight pressure of your braces or Invisalign aligners, however, your teeth may start to move in undesirable directions. In fact, they are likely to start drifting back into their former positions. A retainer can serve as a stabilizing force that keeps every part of your smile exactly where it belongs.
How Long Is a Retainer Necessary?
If your orthodontist provides you with a removable retainer, you will probably need to wear it for 20 – 22 hours every day at first. (You already have good habits from wearing your Invisalign aligners full-time, so transitioning to a retainer should feel natural and easy.) After a while, your orthodontist might tell you that you only need to wear it at night. Eventually, you may need to wear it just a few nights each week. Retainer usage should become a long-term habit; you might need to wear one for the rest of your life.
If your retainer ever starts to feel unusually tight or uncomfortable, that indicates you are not using it enough.
Getting the Most Out of Your Retainer
With proper care, most types of removable retainers can last for several years. Here are some tips to keep yours in good shape for the long haul:
- Remove your retainer whenever you eat or drink anything other than plain water.
- Thoroughly clean your retainer at least once a day. (Periodically soaking it in a cleansing solution is a good practice.)
- Store your retainer securely when you are not using it. Be sure to keep it out of reach of curious pets and small children!
Wearing a retainer might seem like a bit of an inconvenience, but allowing your teeth to drift back out of place would be much worse! Hopefully, it will be easy for you to integrate retainer usage into your daily routine.
Meet the Practice
Under the leadership of Dr. Amin Mason, a board-certified orthodontist, our Columbus team provides a range of treatments for patients of virtually all ages. If you have questions about Invisalign or retainers, we would be pleased to speak with you. Get in touch with Polaris Orthodontic Center at 614-781-6990.
