Braces function as an alignment tool, straightening out teeth and enhancing the smile. After they are removed, your dentist may have you fitted for retainers. This often-underestimated step is essential for ensuring the newly straightened teeth remain in place. Here’s why you should get in the habit of wearing retainers.

Why You Should Wear Retainers

1. Keep Teeth Aligned

When your braces are removed, you’ll be impressed by how even your teeth are. Unfortunately, they could begin to shift out of alignment with nothing holding them in place; this could cause you to have to return to the dental office to fix any changes.

However, regularly using retainers will help keep your smile in place. Some dentists install permanent ones by gluing a bar behind the teeth to keep them from sliding out of position. If you have a temporary retainer, try to wear it at all times, except for when you are eating or brushing and flossing your teeth. Keep up with this habit in the few years after the braces come off to ensure the orthodontic treatment holds.

2. Improve Oral Hygiene

Misaligned teeth can not only make you less confident in your smile, but they can also make oral hygiene more challenging. When the teeth don’t match up, it becomes harder to reach and clean certain spots, especially when you are flossing. 

Wearing a retainer ensures your teeth remain as straight as possible, making them much easier to clean. Proper alignment also makes chewing more efficient, which increases saliva production. This fluid flushes away food particles, fights cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth, and protects against tooth decay and gum disease.

3. Treat Speech Problems

Although they may not seem like it, teeth are a critical part of speech and articulation. Pronouncing certain words around crooked ones can be difficult and might cause a lisp or whistle when speaking. Retainers maintain tooth alignment, which helps with proper tongue position in the mouth. This can aid in correcting speech impediments and improving pronunciation.

If you desire a straighter smile, turn to Lakeside Dental Family & Cosmetic Dentistry in Austin, TX. This family practice offers comprehensive cosmetic and general dentistry services, including regular checkups, cavity fillings, dentures, root canals, Invisalign®, and teeth whitening solutions. Their experienced team will work with you to build the best preventative care program or treatment for your dental needs. Call (512) 249-5555 to schedule an appointment with this experienced dentist, and visit the office online for more information.