Clear Retainer Concerns

[desotzac]

So I got my braces off close to around 3 months ago, and my orthodontist did two things: he gave me two permanent, bonded retainers on both the top and bottom teeth (he called it a G bar), and he gave me a clear retainer to wear 8-10 hours a day, during either the day or night. My concern is the clear retainer. It feels, and this may just be me being paranoid, as though it's changing shape ever so slightly. I take good care of it, using retainer safe denture cleaner once a day. I also occasionally brush it with a soft bristle toothbrush and no toothpaste, to aid in plaque removal. It just feels like the fit has changed--although it's always been rather uncomfortable--and I'm just not sure what to do about it or how to tell whether or not it's changing shape or if I'm just being paranoid--and perhaps it is changing shape, in slight, harmless ways that merely change how it feels, not how it retains, but that's what I'd like to know: do clear retainers commonly change shape in slight, harmless ways? Am I just being paranoid about it changing shape? Or should I go see my orthodontist. My next appointment with him is May 30, which isn't too far off. But we all know how quickly teeth can shift, and I don't have the money to get braces again :P

Another concern I have is the amount of time I should be wearing it. It feels incredibly tight if I only wear it 10 hours at night, but it feels much looser when I wear it 24/7. Will it hurt to just wear it 10 hours at night, or should I start wearing it 24/7 since it feels pretty tight when I put it in?

Also, will smoking or drinking soda/juice affect the shape of my retainer in any negative way? Should I take it out before indulging in such pleasantries? Last, will taking it out inappropriately damage it? I take it out from the side and then work my way around--like my orthodontist showed me--but what if I'm being too rough and that's what's causing my retainer to become defective? I don't know... I'm probably just being obsessively paranoid. Thank you for all your help, in advance :3


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[josie]

I would wear it as you've been advised to wear it.

Make sure you're not washing it in hot water, as this can affect the shape - wash only with cold water. Also wouldn't drink hot drinks with it in.

Don't drink soda or juice with a retainer in - the sugars in both will get trapped under the retainer and bacteria will breed and basically you're creating a greenhouse for bacteria and tooth decay. You should always clean your teeth before putting your retainer in and then drink nothing but water when it is in. This is easy if you just wear it at night.

Check the retainer and make sure there isn't a crack in it, as sometimes cracks can happen - especially if you grind your teeth in the night (I'm already on my 2nd retainer, after 3 months, for that reason!). Cracks can affect the retainer's ability to hold your teeth in place.

Otherwise, just talk about it with your ortho at your next appointment.

[esyy123]

You probably want to talk to your ortho on most of these issues. Staining agents in food do sometimes cause discolor to your retainer as it happened to me and it did change the longevity of my retainers, it cracked. My ortho later found me a new material for retainer, and it feels just right and fits perfectly, I have been wearing it for over 1 years now and it won't break, or change shape (saving me a fortune), and discolor is just minor.

You probably want to ask your ortho for access of this material (called "zendura" or similar).

[Loran]

If the plastic one needs feels tight when you put it in then you should wear it more. All plastic retainers eventually need to be replaced because they degrade in the mouth. If you think it has changed shape that is not good for obvious reasons. Take a look at a chrome cobalt retainer (Somnowell) that should last a very long time as it is made from an alloy.