{"id":19,"date":"2021-03-11T16:52:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-11T16:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplyorthoholliston.com\/blog\/?p=19"},"modified":"2021-03-24T14:52:30","modified_gmt":"2021-03-24T14:52:30","slug":"braces-holliston-importance-of-wearing-and-caring-for-your-retainer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.simplyorthoholliston.com\/blog\/2021\/03\/11\/braces-holliston-importance-of-wearing-and-caring-for-your-retainer\/","title":{"rendered":"After Braces: Wearing & Caring for Your Retainer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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If you\u2019ve recently completed your orthodontic treatment, or will be soon, congratulations on your new smile! Now that your braces are off or you don\u2019t have to worry about Invisalign aligners anymore, it\u2019s time to protect your investment. After all, you spent a lot of time, money, and effort to straighten out your pearly whites! Thankfully, you can expect to enjoy your results for the rest of your life by wearing and caring for your retainer<\/a> as instructed. Read on to learn more about this important last step of your orthodontic treatment and how to make the most of it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Retainers: Just As Important As Braces<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To understand why wearing a retainer after braces or Invisalign is important for maintaining your results, lets take a closer look at how orthodontic treatment works. Braces and clear aligners apply a specific amount of pressure onto your teeth. This gradually shifts the roots of your teeth as well, which makes the jawbone tissue surrounding them change shape to adapt. That\u2019s why orthodontic treatment is so gradual\u2014moving teeth too quickly could fracture the roots of the teeth or damage the jawbone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once it\u2019s time to take your braces off or complete your series of aligners, your jawbone will still need some time to heal and strengthen in order to hold your teeth in place. Wearing a retainer after your treatment will ensure that your teeth stay in their ideal positions as the bone tissue around the roots hardens. Since your mouth is constantly changing like the rest of your body, you\u2019ll likely need to wear a retainer occasionally for the rest of your life to ensure your newly straighten smile stays perfectly aligned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Care for Your Retainer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you get your custom-made retainer, it\u2019s essential that you take good care of it to ensure that it lasts for many years to come. A few simple tips to keep in mind include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n