Why does wearing my retainer hurt

Q: Do retainers hurt the first day? Do retainers hurt at first? A: Probably, but only for a few days. When you start an exercise program, you get sore muscles. However, as you consistently follow your program, the soreness disappears. The same is true with a retainer. Think about what is happening in your mouth. Your retainer keeps your teeth from moving right back to where they came from. That takes some pressure, and pressure causes pain. Q: Do retainers hurt? Do retainers hurt teeth?

Why do retainers hurt? Are retainers supposed to hurt? A retainer is not worn as prescribed — You may be instructed to wear your retainer at all times for a while, then at night only. It is essential to follow these instructions carefully to prevent your teeth from shifting. An old retainer — The materials that make up your retainer may wear down over time. As a result, it may no longer fit properly and may develop spots that irritate your mouth. If you got your retainer in and want to keep your teeth straight and smile beautiful, read further.

After years or months of braces, wearing a retainer can seem like a reward for many patients! In fact, it can be a relief just knowing that if needed you can remove the retainer for special events, sports or photos. Generally, after braces are removed, it is expected that the retainer or set of retainers be worn for a specific amount of time and frequency dependent on the dental professionals instruction. For example, some patients may wear a retainer for the first three months following braces during the night and day.

Then, after those three months, the retainer may only need to put their retainer in at nighttime. The retainer ensures that the teeth do not shift or move the teeth that the braces worked so diligently to correct. Others may have to wear a retainer to maintain alignment and close any gaps that are between the teeth. Retainers may be worn for a longer period of time in order to close the spaces and then keep the gaps closed by holding the teeth in proper place.

No matter if you wear a retainer following braces or for correction of gaps between the teeth, since retainers can be removed, it can be difficult to remember to put them back in the mouth. This may be especially true for individuals that only need to wear their retainers at night. As a result of only nightly wear of a retainer, after a few days, if the retainer has been forgotten to be worn whenever it is put back in the retainer may feel sore, tight or even hurt to some extent.

This feeling is usually a result of pressure and this kind of discomfort tends to go away once the retainer is worn regularly again. If discomfort does not go away after regular wear of the retainer, it is best to contact your dental professional. This could be from a rough edge or strayed wire. However, a dentist or orthodontist can easily adjust this and make sure the retainer feels as good as new.

This is especially true for the first two weeks after your braces are out, but it remains true afterward as well. Some patients may simply forget to wear their retainer. Your teeth may have already started to shift back towards their original positions, and if you try to force your retainer in, you could hurt yourself. The same goes for if you left your retainer in a hot car. You should make an appointment with your orthodontist as soon as you can if something happened to your retainer.

Ideally, you should get a replacement retainer right away if you broke or lost your retainer. Even if you skipped out on wearing your retainer for a while and your teeth have started to shift, you may still be able to get by with a new retainer.