Congratulations to those of you who have just completed your clear aligner treatment. Your teeth are now straight, and you are likely to be very happy with how smart you look. But this is not the end of the job. The first six months after your treatment are very crucial for making sure that your teeth do not shift back to their former positions. It’s like your teeth are still getting used to their new spots, and they need a little help so they’ll stay put. It is time to discuss actions you have to take and things you are to expect in the first few months after clear aligners treatment.
You thought that this was the last time you’d ever wear stuff in your mouth, right? Nope! Now you’ve got a retainer. This little thing will help you more than anything else that you will encounter in the next few months. Your teeth are slightly loose right after your clear aligners are removed, so they might be sensitive during this time, like, “Hey, I’m not sure where I’m supposed to be yet.” That is where your retainer comes into the picture.
Depending on how your teeth respond to the retainer, you may have to wear your retainer all day and night. Perhaps not when you’re actually eating or brushing your teeth, but otherwise virtually all the time. This helps prevent your teeth from shifting back to their pre-aligned positions. We promise you don’t want to subject yourself to all the aligner trays and then find yourself with crooked teeth all over again. Over several months, your orthodontist may allow the appliance to be worn only at night.
If you do not wear your retainer regularly, then you will find that your teeth start to shift back to their original position. Yes, all that exertion could come to nothing. Your teeth have a natural tendency to revert to their previously worn position. And the first six months are when they’re most likely to do that. Therefore, not wearing your retainer is a big no-no.
Well then, it is high time to discuss what measures should be taken in relation to the retainer since you know that it plays such an important role. If you don’t clean your retainers, they can get gross pretty fast! They’re inside your mouth; don’t they spend more time there than almost anything else? They still collect a lot of bacteria if you don’t clean them, and that is not something that you would wish for. That too wasn’t just an emphasis strictly on how the retainer looks but how one’s mouth looks too.
Cleaning a retainer is very simple. One must use a soft toothbrush and only water to clean the retainers daily. Some people also soak their retainers in a retainer cleaner or even in mouthwash, but you need to consult the orthodontist on this. Do not, however, use hot water because it can distort the retainer, after which it cannot fit properly.
Every individual who has used retainers knows that something can go wrong with your retainer at any time. Perhaps it fits like a glove today, but it suddenly feels uncomfortable tomorrow. So if this happens, do not just stop wearing it; instead, contact your orthodontist immediately. They’ll know what to do and can change it or make another one if necessary. It’s wiser to have it set right than to sacrifice your teeth and see them moving to the wrong position.
The six months following your clear aligner treatment will somehow feel more strange. Your teeth are aligned, yet at the same time, occasionally, it feels like they’re trying to move or shift a little. This is totally normal, as teeth are aligning themselves to the positions, and sometimes it takes time to feel comfortable. You may even have some mild discomfort initially if you are wearing your retainer all the time. That’s just your teeth getting adaptive to all these things.
You should also expect your bite to be altered a little during this time. Now and then, your bite might feel a little uneven and maybe your teeth aren’t lining up properly anymore. It is quite normal and unless you experience that something is off or if the pain is unbearable, give your orthodontist a ring.
You should also pay special attention to your gums as well as your oral health in the initial months. Such teeth are cleanable but you still have to brush and floss your teeth day and night. Your gums may be slightly tender afterwards which is quite normal, but do not neglect your hygiene.
Your teeth should remain fairly straight if you wear your retainer as instructed by the orthodontist. But kindly consider that teeth move a little from where they were aligned even after several years of the treatment. That is why some people have to wear a retainer to bed for as long as they live, living and breathing in this orthodontic nightmare. It sounds annoying, but it is all necessary to maintain the good appearance of your smile.
Okay, you’ve removed your clear aligners! That’s a big deal. The good news is that now you can safely wear them and enjoy a meal without having to remove them again and again. But wait a second; just because you don’t have to wear the aligners anymore does not mean you can eat whatever you want. It is still something of a novelty to your teeth being in their new positions. It’s kind of like when you first get a new home and not everything is set up and in the right position yet. As such, the first few months should be a little more cautious about the food you eat.
First and foremost, eliminate sticky or hard types of foods. You might be already excited, saying to yourself, “Yay, caramel and popcorn!” Well sorry, not yet. Gooey substances can stick to your teeth, and acidic foods will sore your teeth once more. Maybe biting on a chewy candy, something crispy, or even hard could cause your teeth to move a little if they are still getting used to their new position and surroundings. So try to avoid hard and sticky foods for a little while. And if you do have something sticky, you very well know to rinse your teeth after you are finished to avoid any staining.
We can now eat without having to remove them each time. But here is the thing, even though we are finished with aligners, it doesn’t mean that we can eat everything without some precautions. We are still in the process of finishing the alignment of the teeth, and we should avoid certain foods for the first few months. You should therefore imagine that these teeth have just recently shifted to a new house and this takes some time.
When it comes to drinking, we should remain cautious even now. Though these beverages sound pretty simple, they can cause a lot of harm to our teeth, especially in the case of sugary products such as soda. These drinks contain sugar and that means we get to have cavities and we don’t want that after so many efforts. On the other hand, water is the best option as it just washes our mouth and keeps our teeth strong . In case we take a sugary drink then perhaps we should just rinse our mouth with water or preferably, clean our teeth if possible.
Even hot beverages such as coffee or tea can negatively affect the color of our teeth. Aligner may have prevented some stains from settling on our teeth up to a certain level but right now our teeth are even more exposed. If we love our coffee, it’s important to rinse or brush so the stains don’t stick around.
Keep in mind, this is not the end of our relationship with the orthodontist even though the aligners are off. Of course, we need to come back for our follow-up appointments to make sure all is well. Sometimes - it’s like when we’ve completed a task but still have to make periodic visits to ensure things aren’t coming off. The orthodontist will ensure that our teeth are not shifting and that our retainers fit us well.
After the first six months of the treatment, we will probably have at least three appointments with the orthodontist. They will remove the retainer and make sure our teeth are not moving and will fix any underlying issues. Retainers can turn out to be rather fragile and may require adjustments or a replacement now and then. Ensuring we are able to maintain these visits means that all that effort that we put towards our smile is well maintained.
In the case we see that our teeth start to shift or there is a sore in our mouth, we should not ignore this as it is advised that we contact our orthodontist. It means they can always address small incidents that may arise before they become major issues. Often when the position of teeth changes, a turn of the retainer is enough to fix it.
Now that we have braces off, it is easier to brush, and floss, but we shouldn't get carefree. It might be quite surprising, but it is even more necessary to maintain the hygiene of our teeth and gums now. All this, however, still entails brushing teeth twice a day and flossing a day as our new smile cannot remain fresh and beautiful without clean teeth.
Fortunately, we do not need any specific tricks to look after our teeth once we have worn the clear aligners. It is okay to use a regular toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste which is the common variant found in the market. But if our teeth have become sensitive, we can replace ordinary toothpaste with toothpaste made for sensitive teeth in order to reduce the amount of pain felt. It is also important to use a soft-bristled brush to avoid harming our gums.
If we’re into gadgets then maybe it’s time for an electric toothbrush. You know, those little ones are perfect for brushing because they are long enough to scrape every angle. And let your teeth stay straight because now, you should be able to floss in between easily.
Now that we’ve come so far, the big question is: what is the best way to maintain a perfect smile for the long term? The answer is simple, consistency. Here, we find that, as with many other things in life, our teeth only remain clean if we make it a point to do so every day, similar to wearing retainers consistently. If your orthodontist told you to wear the retainer every night then the advice should be followed consistently, regardless of the reason for removal. At first, it might feel like an inconvenience but soon it becomes as second nature as washing your face or brushing your teeth.
Apart from having to keep the retainer, one has to visit the dentist for cleaning and check-ups. The dentist will also be able to identify any beginning signs of issues such as cavities and gum diseases should they occur. And, of course, if we ever feel like something’s off with our teeth, it is better to check it out sooner rather than later.
It’s all about care and patience for the first six months after clear aligner treatment. Our teeth have come a long way from where they were, but they never seem to mind needing a little push to remain in their area. Having our retainer in, being consistent with our dental care, and regular orthodontist appointments spell success. However, all these small acts will bring a great reward when we have that beautiful, straight smile for years to come.
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