{"id":122,"date":"2023-02-02T21:02:05","date_gmt":"2023-02-02T21:02:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.milton-orthodontics.com\/blog\/?p=122"},"modified":"2024-08-08T19:54:58","modified_gmt":"2024-08-08T19:54:58","slug":"can-i-use-my-old-retainer-to-re-straighten-my-teeth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.milton-orthodontics.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/02\/can-i-use-my-old-retainer-to-re-straighten-my-teeth\/","title":{"rendered":"Can I Use My Old Retainer to Re-Straighten My Teeth?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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You might imagine that your journey towards a healthier and straighter smile has reached an end the moment you get your braces removed, but this usually isn\u2019t the case\u2014more often than not, a retainer<\/a> is necessary to ensure that your teeth remain in their intended new positions! If this describes your situation, you might be wondering if an older<\/em> retainer can be used to re-straighten your teeth and compensate for any unplanned speedbumps during your treatment process. Continue reading below to learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why Are Retainers Necessary?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Unlike braces or clear aligners, retainers aren\u2019t designed to apply gentle pressure to your teeth in order to reposition them; instead, they\u2019re meant to help preserve<\/em> orthodontic results and prevent relapse, which is when your teeth begin to shift back into their previous and incorrect position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even after undergoing orthodontic treatment, your teeth will naturally adjust from the forces applied to them from daily activities like biting and chewing; however, a retainer actually greatly mitigates this movement and protects your teeth. This means that retainers are actually a necessary and crucial step of the overall orthodontic process and shouldn\u2019t be considered as optional or an afterthought!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can an Old Retainer Realign Your Teeth?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By design, retainers simply aren\u2019t capable of realigning your teeth, no matter any amount of wishful thinking! They don\u2019t apply the steady force overtime needed to make major changes to your smile; they merely hold your teeth in place. So don\u2019t count on an older retainer being able to address notable misalignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, they can still help make very minor adjustments to the position of your teeth and bite! If you\u2019ve neglected your retainers for a few weeks or months, be sure to try it on to see if it still fits; if so, it might be able to help undo any minor shifting that\u2019s recently occurred. If the retainer doesn\u2019t fit snugly or causes pain, be sure to contact your orthodontist for assistance!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips for Maintaining Your Retainer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether your retainer still fits or you end up getting a new one from your orthodontist, you should strive to take great care of it so that it serves you well for life. Consider the following tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n