The importance of wearing a teeth retainer cannot be underestimated, especially after orthodontic treatment. Once you have completed your orthodontic treatment, your orthodontist will surely prescribe you to wear a retainer. If you do not wear a retainer, your teeth will shift back to their original position, which means orthodontic treatment is a complete waste of money.
This article will share a few logical reasons for wearing a retainer, especially after receiving orthodontic treatment. So, continue reading this guide to make sure your orthodontic treatment turns out successful.
Types of Retainers
Retainers are of two distinct types. Let’s discuss both of their types.
· Fixed Retainers
These retainers are made of thin wire that connects with the tongue-side of your upper or lower teeth. You cannot remove and insert these retainers without the assistance of a dentist.
· Removable Retainers
Removable retainers can either be wire type made of wire and plastic material or can be clear retainers made of plastic-like material. You can put in and take out these retainers daily.
6 Logical Reasons to Wear a Retainer
Here are a few logical reasons to wear a teeth retainer.
1. Retainer Prevents Relapse
Once you undergo orthodontic treatment, a force is applied to your teeth which helps them move to the correct position. Although they align over time, they are still subject to regression once the treatment is completed. If you do not wear a retainer, the teeth will lose this correct position again.
2. Maintain Oral Health
Having straight teeth plays a vital role in maintaining excellent oral health. When you wear a retainer, you can take good care of your dental health because performing dental hygiene tasks like flossing and brushing gets easier. Hence, the chances of bacteria and plaque accumulation get reduced significantly. So, if you want to maintain healthy teeth and gums, you must wear a retainer.
3. Improve Breathing
Another benefit of wearing retainers is they help in improving breathing. Retainers are not only beneficial for straightening the teeth or jaws; rather, they are also beneficial for those who experience trouble with snoring or breathing at night.
4. Maintain Attractive Smile
Most of us opt for orthodontic treatment to maintain an attractive smile. Although orthodontic treatment brings back your lovely smile; however, maintaining this smile is possible only if your teeth stay in the corrected position. If you do not wear a retainer, the teeth will return to their wrong positions within a few months. So, if you want to maintain an attractive smile, make sure you are wearing a retainer, especially after receiving orthodontic treatment.
5. Helps in Maintaining A Functional Bite
If you have crooked teeth, chewing food becomes difficult. That’s where retainers can become handy. Teeth retainers are incredibly effective at maintaining a bad bite. A clear retainer can help in maintaining a functional bite.
We all know that having a functional bite is incredibly important because it ensures that you consume nutritious food, including fresh fruits and vegetables. Maintaining a functional bite is only possible by keeping the teeth in their original position. This is possible by wearing a retainer.
6. Makes Speech Easier
Another less-known benefit of wearing a retainer is it minimizes speech complications. Reports suggest that wearing retainers help in adjusting your tongue placement so that you can speak comfortably from sounds that are difficult to perform otherwise.
Final Words
Wearing a retainer is necessary to ensure that your orthodontic treatment turns out to be a successful one. A retainer helps maintain the position of your teeth and does not allow them to go back to the wrong positions. Hence, you must be wearing them, particularly after orthodontic treatment.
