You may experience a loose retainer if you have a single tooth that is more than a millimeter wide. It can be tightened using a retainer that has a small plastic ring at the back. Retainers are the metal bars that prevent your teeth from moving during sleep.
They can become loose over time, and this can cause problems for your teeth and gums. This article will teach you how to tighten your retainer.
How Can You Make It Fit Again?
This is not a massive issue and it can be sorted out very quickly and easily but you must not try and sort this problem yourself. You have an orthodontist for a reason and it is their job to sort out any issues linked to your braces and your retainer.
They will be able to make sure that your retainer is fitting perfectly and there is no pain or discomfort.
Steps To Making Your Retainer Fit Properly
- The first thing you need to do is call up your dentist or orthodontist to make an appointment to take a look at your retainer to see where the problem was. They will give you the information you need to be able to get a new retainer fitted because if you leave it for too long it will only end up costing you more money if your teeth start to move or you start having pain.
- You then need to make sure you go and get your new retainer fitted properly because you definitely do not want your teeth moving back to how they were before. This can also cause other issues with chipping your teeth as they move back as well.
- You should not try to adjust your retainer at home because the orthodontists have special equipment to do that for you. If you try to make it together at home, it could damage the retainers and could also damage your teeth.
Should You Continue Wearing Your Retainer If It Doesn’t Quite Fit?
If your retainer is either too loose or too tight then you should not be wearing it. This is because it will not be helping your teeth stay in place if they are not molded to them properly.
It all depends on how uncomfortable it has become because you are able to just wear it full time only taking it off when brushing your teeth and eating.
If your retainer is on the looser side then it will not be damaging your teeth in any sort of way but it won’t be giving you the force to keep them straight.
This will start to become a problem after a while and the space it will allow will make the teeth move around.
Why Shouldn’t You Adjust Them At Home?
You definitely should be trying to either make them tighter or looser at home because you will most likely only end up damaging the retainer.
This is a problem because of the money you will have to pay for the new retainer. It is important that you are looking after your retainer and following instructions on when you should and shouldn’t be wearing them.
If you start becoming slack with the routine of wearing your retainers then it can cause all sorts of future problems with your teeth.
When wearing braces, it can take quite a long time to get them straight which is why the retainers are very important for maintaining the new alignment of your teeth.
Different Types Of Retainers
You also need to look at what type of retainer you have. There are different types of retainers that you can opt for which include either a metal or plastic one.
The plastic versions are very common across the world because the material molds to your teeth. The metal version tends to be a temporary hold after you take the braces off.
The plastic retainers will start to loosen overtime because of the wear and tear and you are not able to tighten them manually. You need to make sure they are able to stay in while you are sleeping because that is where they will move the most.
Conclusion
Overall, if you are looking to have your retainer tightened you will have to go through the process of going to the orthodontists to either get yourself a new retainer or getting it tightened.
You need to make sure you are taking care of your retainer because if you don’t, or forget about your routine of wearing it, it will only cost you more money.
The process of having braces and retainers can be quite expensive as an adult anyway without any extra costs of breakages.
There are lots of different types of retainers available, which is why it is important to make sure that you choose the right one for your needs.
Dental retainers can provide a way to strengthen teeth that have become weakened due to teeth grinding and many other different issues such as straightening and they can make a real difference to your life.
If you’re in a position where you need a tighter retainer, you need to make sure that you are getting hold of the orthodontist as soon as you can before further damage is caused.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Make The Retainer Tighter?
If your retainer is removable and has a wire component to it, we can adjust the retainer to tighten it up. The plastic, or clear, retainers will loosen slightly with time but if they do not fall out during sleep, they should be fine.
Why Is My Retainer Loose?
If your retainer starts feeling loose, that’s a strong sign that it’s time to replace it. This doesn’t mean there is an issue with your teeth. Retainers wear down overtime and grow wider.
This is why they can feel loose eventually, even if you have been good about wearing it.
He has combined both of these skills to create his first company, Isopharm Limited, which became one of the top learning platforms within the dental industry.
With over 120,000 active users, he has been able to educate others in order to provide better dental care around the world.
With his expertise and work in the field, Andrew has been able to help many dental care professionals succeed in treating their patients.
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