Whether they were made of traditional metal or a transparent material, braces are used to create a straighter smile, improve speech, and help with overall oral health. However, they aren't permanent, and at some point, an orthodontist will transition their patient to a retainer. These must continue to be worn, especially in the month following the removal of the braces. To better understand why, here's what you need to know. 

Why You Should Wear Dental Retainers Regularly

1. Maintains Straightened Teeth

As you may have guessed, the primary benefit of retainers is to hold the alignment created by the braces. Simply put, removing them will jeopardize the current position of the teeth. Furthermore, sometimes, an orthodontist will transition a patient to retainers to continue moving and aligning the teeth. 

2. Helps With Speaking and Breathing

Often, misaligned teeth can impede one's ability to speak and breathe clearly. Braces and retainers also affect the placement of the tongue, which contributes to both. So, without them and once the teeth start shifting out of place again, the patient may start to face the same struggles with their speech or breathing again. In addition, snoring issues may develop at night.

3. Prevents Teeth Grinding

If nighttime teeth grinding is a problem, wearing a retainer when sleeping will help. Of course, it contributes to proper teeth alignment to hold the jaw in the optimal place, but that's not the only benefit. The retainer itself also provides a buffer between the teeth to minimize the wear and tear of any grinding that does happen. 

Whether you're interested in having braces or you already have a retainer, the orthodontists at John M. Schulte, DMD, can help. Located in Covington, KY, this family dentistry practice has served the Northern Kentucky region for 45 years. Other than orthodontics, their team provides both preventive and cosmetic dentistry. You can learn more about all their dental services on their website or by calling (859) 331-0763.