After a lengthy orthodontic treatment, finally being able to take off your fixed braces or stop wearing your clear aligner can feel like you’ve finally crossed the finish line! It is important to keep in mind that your teeth move over time and there are important steps you must follow once your treatment is over to prevent your teeth moving out of the corrected position. If you don’t, you may soon start to notice gaps and movement in your teeth again which will require further treatment to correct.
Whether you have had braces for 6 months or 3 years, the process is still the same. Wires or aligners have been applying pressure to your teeth to guide them into the desired position, once this pressure is removed, your teeth will want to move into their original positions. The most important step to keeping your teeth straight after braces is wearing your retainer once treatment is over. Your orthodontist will give you instructions at the end of your treatment which will likely be to continue wearing your retainer as normal for 6 months then a night going forward. Teeth shift over time for all sorts of reasons, wearing your retainer at night will prevent this happening and keep your teeth straight.
To prevent excess tooth movement, maintaining good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing twice a day is essential to prevent gum disease which leads to moving teeth. You will have been hyper-focused on your oral health during your treatment, you should continue to be as vigilant after your treatment has ended.
Teeth straightening can last forever if you maintain good oral hygiene and continue to wear your retainer at night.
For more information about teeth straightening, book a free consultation to discuss your ideal smile.
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