{"id":43,"date":"2021-11-07T17:50:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-07T17:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.superbraceslawrence.com\/blog\/?p=43"},"modified":"2021-11-29T17:59:52","modified_gmt":"2021-11-29T17:59:52","slug":"lawrence-orthodontist-use-old-retainer-restraighten-teeth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.superbraceslawrence.com\/blog\/2021\/11\/07\/lawrence-orthodontist-use-old-retainer-restraighten-teeth\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Re-Straighten Your Teeth with an Old Retainer?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Orthodontic treatments like braces and Invisalign have the potential to straighten your smile for a lifetime, but only if you take the right steps to protect your results. If you\u2019ve neglected to wear your retainer<\/a> as instructed, you may discover that your teeth aren\u2019t as aligned as they were when you finished your treatment. You still have your old retainer\u2026 could wearing it help re-straighten your teeth? Read on as your Lawrence orthodontist breaks down how your retainer works and what you should do to regain your beautifully even smile if you haven\u2019t been wearing yours frequently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How Do Retainers Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Retainers do exactly what their name implies- they retain! They are specifically designed to hold your teeth in their new positions after an orthodontic treatment. After all, once you finish wearing braces or Invisalign, your jawbone will still need time to heal and solidify around the new positioning of your teeth. A retainer keeps your teeth aligned perfectly during this process, as well as for many years afterward as the shape of your mouth naturally changes over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Could Happen If You Wear an Old Retainer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If it\u2019s been more than just a week or two since you last wore your retainer, or if you can see that your teeth have changed position, wearing your old retainer to re-straighten your teeth will likely cause more harm than good. Forcing an old retainer onto your teeth after they\u2019ve shifted out of place puts far too much pressure on them, which could result in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n