Do Retainers Move Your Teeth Back into Place?

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A woman applying clear retainers while looking in the mirror.

Retainers, as the name suggests, are the orthodontic devices that help to sustain teeth. The advancements of orthodontics have made it easier to achieve the smile of your dreams. However, teeth straightening doesn’t end with aligner or braces treatment. Retainers are included as part of the procedure once you complete your straightening journey. In this blog, let us explore retainers, their purpose, benefits, and find the answer to the question, “Do retainers fix teeth movement?”

What Are Retainers?

Retainers are the dental devices that are used after getting your teeth aligned. It doesn’t matter if you have had your teeth straightened with braces or aligners; retainers play a keen role in teeth shifting prevention and help maintain your new smile. Teeth shifting is still possible even after undergoing the long straightening procedures, which is why retainers are incorporated into the routine.

Types of Retainers

Retainers are different, each with its pros and cons. You can choose the type of retainer that best suits the severity of your dental issue and lifestyle.

Hawley Retainers

A woman smiling with Hawley Retainers.
Hawley Retainers

Hawley retainers include a metal wire attached to an acrylic base that sits on the roof of the mouth. They are a durable option that can last for years and ensure smooth tooth retention. This type of retainer is easily adjusted and can be removed to maintain oral hygiene and for eating.

Clear Retainers

Clear retainers are another type of retainer that is helpful in the smooth retention of teeth in their new place. They are composed of BPA-free plastic, which makes them barely visible. It is the ideal approach for anyone wanting to retain their smile without getting noticed. Clear retainers are worn for a specified time and can be easily removed for oral hygiene and eating purposes.

Fixed Retainers

Fixed or bonded retainers are bonded to the inside of the teeth according to the arch. They are fixed on the teeth and cannot be removed without the supervision of an expert. They are durable for teeth retention, but often make it challenging to ensure regular brushing and flossing.

Can Retainers Realign Teeth?

Retainers are often confused with aligners due to their appearance. However, aligners are the ones that fix the alignment of teeth by exerting a gentle pressure on the teeth. On the other hand, the purpose of retainers is to retain teeth in their newly aligned positions. After undergoing teeth straightening, there is still a chance of an orthodontic relapse, and retainers help prevent that relapse.

Benefits of Retainers

Here are some of the benefits of post-braces treatment with retainers.

Maintains Teeth Alignment

If you are facing any sort of dental misalignment and want to undergo an orthodontic treatment, a retainer will help you retain your smile once you’re done.

Prevent Relapse

After you get your teeth aligned through any of the teeth straightening treatments, it is important to retain teeth in their new place with the help of retainers. They mainly help in preventing a possible orthodontic relapse (where teeth move back to their old, misaligned positions).

Better Oral Hygiene

Misaligned teeth are hard to clean and are at a higher risk of gum disease and decay. Retainers allow you to lock in your hard-earned dream smile forever, therefore, ensuring good oral hygiene.

Improved Chewing and Speech

Tooth misalignments may interfere with your bite function, making chewing much harder. It may also affect your speech. By maintaining the alignment of your teeth, retainers allow you to continue eating and speaking with ease.

Retainer Care

Dental devices, including a retainer, require proper maintenance to ensure their longevity and your oral hygiene. To ensure proper retainer care , you must rinse your retainer before and after usage. Use a soft-bristle brush to clean your retainer with a non-abrasive toothpaste every day, and deep clean with a retainer cleaner at least once a week. Avoid using hot water as it may warp the plastic.

ALIGNERCO Retainers

A hand holding ALIGNERCO Clear Retainers.
ALIGNERCO Clear Retainers

Congratulations on achieving the smile of your dreams. The time and money invested in achieving that smile must not go to waste. This is why it is essential to make sure that you wear retainers. When it comes to retaining smiles, ALIGNERCO offers an effective and hassle-free way. Our retainers are composed of clear BPA-free plastic to provide you with a smooth retention phase without even getting noticed. Moreover, you don’t have to leave your house and can get your custom-fit gadget at your doorstep.

Don't let your hard-earned smile go to waste.

With ALIGNERCO Clear Retainers, maintain your picture-perfect smile!

Retain now

Why Choose ALIGNERCO?

Here is why ALIGNERCO Clear Retainers can be your new smile’s best friend.

Durable

Our retainers are composed of high-quality materials to offer durable and long-lasting comfort, for a reliable and extended wear.

Affordable

With ALIGNERCO Retainers, you get to maintain your smile without disturbing your budget. Our affordable retainers can be ideal for you.

Safe

Our retainers are made with BPA-free, medical-grade materials that ensure they are safe, gentle, and won't hurt your mouth.

Maintenance

Our clear retainers can be removed without the supervision of an expert. You can easily rinse or deep clean them before and after every use.

How to Order ALIGNERCO Retainers?

At Home Impressions

Our retainers are customized according to each individual’s dental structure. An impressions kit will be sent your way upon ordering our retainers. Follow the instructions mentioned to create perfect impressions.

Send Us Your Impressions

Use the prepaid shipping label to send your impressions back to us. Our smile experts will use the impressions to craft your custom-fit retainers.

Get Your Retainers

Once your retainers are fabricated, we will send them your way. Within a few days, you will receive them at your doorstep. It means you can retain your smile without the hassle of long clinic visits or appointment waits.

Got more queries about retainers?

Call us today at (877) 271-7417 and get your confusions addressed.

Retainers: Guardians of Your Smiles

Retainers after braces are an essential step that must be followed to ensure your newly achieved smile stays intact. They are often confused with aligners. So, it is important to understand that while clear aligners or braces help in moving teeth, retainers only help in sustaining the movement achieved.

There are different types of retainers for you to choose from according to your lifestyle and case requirements. Initially, your orthodontist might recommend that you wear retainers full time, shifting to nighttime wear only after a few months. If you are looking for affordable, clear retainers, ALIGNERCO can be the best fit for you. You can retain your smile without having any second thoughts.

Regardless of which retainer your orthodontist recommends, proper retainer cleaning when wearing retainers long-term is key to the longevity of the retainer and your oral health.

FAQs

Can retainers shift my teeth back?

No, aligners or braces are teeth straightening treatments that help shift teeth to their proper alignment. Retainers, on the other hand, maintain the alignment of teeth achieved by orthodontic treatments.

Can I start wearing my retainer again if it fits?

If you stopped wearing your retainers for any reason, it is better to consult your orthodontist before re-wearing them, as your teeth may have shifted.

Do retainers keep your teeth in place?

Yes, after getting your teeth straightened, retainers help to keep them in place, preventing an orthodontic relapse.

Can retainers push gums back?

Retainers are used to keep teeth in place after alignment. They do not directly push gums back. However, if the retainers are too tight, they may irritate and push against the gums.

Citation:

Professional, C. C. M. (2025, March 19). Teeth Retainer. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/10899-teeth-retainer

American Association of Orthodontists. Multiple pages reviewed. Will I Need to Wear Retainers After Treatment? (https://www.aaoinfo.org/blog/will-i-need-to-wear-retainers/) Accessed 8/25/2022.

Dentaly.org. Teeth Retainers: What’s the Best Type? Hawley, Essix, and More (https://www.dentaly.org/us/adult-braces/teeth-retainers/). Accessed 8/25/2022.

Health Direct. Dental braces and retainers (https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dental-braces-and-retainers). Accessed 8/25/2022.

NHS. Orthodontic treatments (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/orthodontics/treatments/). Accessed 8/25/2022.

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  • Sarah Williams

    Sarah Williams

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  • Dr. Anas Athar

    Dr. Anas Athar

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    Dr. Anas Athar is a highly sought-after orthodontist with nearly two decades of experience in dentistry. He is the only dual-trained Oral and Maxillofacial Radiologist...

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