{"id":752,"date":"2026-01-13T09:48:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T14:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.skororthodontics.com\/blog\/?p=752"},"modified":"2026-04-28T07:48:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T11:48:17","slug":"why-do-you-need-a-retainer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skororthodontics.com\/blog\/why-do-you-need-a-retainer\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Do You Need a Retainer After Braces?"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve been counting the days until your braces come off<\/a> and you can finally see your new beautiful smile without anything in the way. But that\u2019s not the end of your treatment! To keep all the progress your smile has made over the last few months or years, you\u2019ll be given a retainer. It\u2019s common for patients to ask us \u201cwhy do you need a retainer?\u201d<\/p>\n

Read on to learn why retainers are critical after braces, and what can happen if you don\u2019t wear yours!<\/p>\n

What Happens If I Don\u2019t Wear a Retainer After Braces?<\/h2>\n

Braces move your teeth slowly and gently into the position that your orthodontist finds ideal for a healthy mouth. But even after months or years of orthodontic treatment, they won\u2019t be \u201clocked\u201d into place.<\/p>\n

When you remove your braces, you remove the force that was holding them in their ideal placement. Once that brace is gone, they\u2019ll tend to shift back. This is called relapse.<\/p>\n

Relapse can ruin the time and money you spent correcting your smile throughout your orthodontic treatment. In the worst cases, it can leave your mouth just as vulnerable as it was before treatment.<\/p>\n

Most patients will experience some degree of relapse after removing braces. So, you may still be wondering \u201cWhy do you need a retainer if they can\u2019t prevent relapse?\u201d The truth is that retainers prevent the most serious cases of relapse<\/a>. While a slight relapse is expected, without a retainer, you will lose a significant amount of progress.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, a retainer keeps your teeth as close to their ideal position as possible following treatment. If you ignore your orthodontist\u2019s warnings to use your retainer, especially for the few months after your braces come off, you will likely run into issues with your alignment again.<\/p>\n

How Long Do You Need a Retainer?<\/h2>\n

Immediately following the removal of your braces, you will need to wear your retainer for most of the day. Outside of eating and drinks, it\u2019s a good idea to have the retainer in for at least 22 hours. This can last anywhere from three to six months for the average person, but each case varies.<\/p>\n

When your orthodontist becomes confident that your teeth are relatively stable, you won\u2019t have to wear your retainer during the day. From this point, you are recommended to wear your retainer only at night. To protect your teeth from additional shifting, you will want to continue this practice for the rest of your life.<\/p>\n

Are There Different Types of Retainers?<\/h2>\n

Yes, there is one main differentiator when it comes to retainers:<\/p>\n

Removable Retainers<\/h3>\n

Removable retainers are a common type of retainer that can be, as their name implies, removed as the wearer needs. This allows you to wear them throughout the day, but still take them out for eating, drinking and brushing your teeth.<\/p>\n

Removable retainers come in different types as well. Traditional Hawley retainers are larger and very durable. Their biggest benefit comes in the ability for the orthodontist to make slight adjustments with them to help keep your teeth in their ideal position<\/a> without needing to revert to braces.<\/p>\n

Some other retainers are clear and slip right over your teeth, similar to how Invisalign aligners look<\/a>. These can be a subtler option, and some consider them more comfortable to wear.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to remember that just because the retainer is removable, you shouldn\u2019t spend too much time without it in. Your orthodontist will give you instructions for how often to wear it.<\/p>\n

Permanent Retainers<\/h3>\n

Another type of retainer is the fixed lingual retainer. Your orthodontist will bond a wire to the back of your teeth that will stay in place. These retainers are easier to wear in the sense that you can\u2019t remove them or lose them.<\/p>\n

If you have a permanent retainer, you need to take extra care to keep it clean. The wire can be another place for bacteria to attach and grow. This is no different than the extra care you took when maintaining your braces.<\/a><\/p>\n

Read our guide on cleaning retainers<\/a> for more help with taking care of your retainer!<\/p>\n

The Science Behind Retainers<\/h2>\n

When your braces come off, your teeth may look \u201cfinished,\u201d but underneath the surface your smile is still settling in.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s why: braces move teeth through the bone and surrounding tissues. After treatment, your body needs time to stabilize everything in its new position. The ligaments that hold each tooth in place (and the bone around them) gradually adjust\u2014but that process doesn\u2019t happen overnight.<\/p>\n

On top of that, teeth naturally shift throughout life. Everyday forces like chewing, clenching\/grinding, and even normal aging can slowly nudge teeth out of alignment over time.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s where retainers come in. A retainer helps \u201chold the line\u201d while your smile stabilizes\u2014then continues protecting your results long-term.<\/p>\n

Bottom line:<\/strong> Retainers are what keep your orthodontic results from slowly fading.<\/p>\n

Your Retainer Schedule (for the Average Person)<\/h2>\n

Most patients wear their retainer in phases. Your orthodontist will tell you exactly what\u2019s right for your case, but a common plan looks like this:<\/p>\n

Phase 1: Full-Time Wear<\/h3>\n

Right after braces are removed, you\u2019ll typically wear your retainer about 22 hours per day<\/strong> (only taking it out to eat, drink anything other than water, brush, and floss).<\/p>\n

This is the most important stage because it\u2019s when your teeth are most likely to shift.<\/p>\n

Phase 2: Nighttime Wear<\/h3>\n

After the initial full-time period, most patients transition to wearing their retainer only at night<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Phase 3: Long-Term Maintenance<\/h3>\n

Even after your teeth feel \u201cstable,\u201d we usually recommend continuing nighttime wear long-term. This helps keep your smile straight as your body changes over the years.<\/p>\n

A few things that can affect your schedule:<\/strong><\/p>\n