Misaligned, crooked teeth and impacted teeth affect your smile, and you can correct the misalignment with braces or Invisalign. The braces straighten the teeth and prevent misalignment by moving the teeth on the arch. However, you can maintain the new dental arrangement with retainers Leander which keeps the teeth in the new alignment. You keep the retainers in there after aligning the teeth as it encourages better oral care practices and keeps the teeth in good alignment soon after removing braces. Your dentist will recommend dental retainers for these reasons.
It Keeps the Teeth from Shifting
The retainers maintain the structural integrity of the teeth on the arch and keep the teeth in position after correcting them with braces. However, you should place the retainers soon after the braces to achieve the best results, as the first year determines the impact of the retainers. Moreover, as we age, our teeth are prone to natural physiological drift; thus, you can opt for retainers in old age. The drift widens the grins making the teeth shift, as the retainers will keep the teeth from drifting.
It Improves the Oral Hygiene
You can clean straight teeth easily as they don’t have grooves and crevices which collect food particles and promote bacterial growth. Flossing and brushing straight and aligned teeth are easy as you reach the whole surfaces and spaces—crookedness results in infections, cavities, and gingivitis, affecting your oral and general health.
It Improves Speech and Breathing
The teeth alignments impact breathing and speech as they affect the ability to pronounce words. However, you may not notice the changing speech and breathing rhythm when the teeth shift in adulthood. The teeth impact the sound produced during speech. Even if you are self-conscious about wearing retainers, you should write notes and establish a habit that ensures you maintain efficiency.
It Prevents Against Tongue Thrust
You can easily thrust your tongue against the teeth when speaking, swallowing, or eating. Sometimes when resting, you may place the tongue against the teeth, which could push away the teeth from the arch. The tongue will destroy the recently acquired smile after getting braces. The retainers strengthen the teeth, keeping them in position and preventing crookedness.
It Prevents Clenching
The teeth will feel different after removing the braces or discontinuing Invisalign, as it feels like a new experience. Thus, you may clench your jaws when adjusting to the new experience, but retainers prevent clenching. Moreover, you can use the retainers together with snoring devices together with the retainers to promote better sleep. Jaw clenching leads to headaches and discomfort, which impact your daily activities.
Misaligned teeth can lead to bacterial growth, gum disease, and other health complications. Although you can align the teeth with braces, the teeth might not stay in the arch. Thus you would need retainers that prevent the teeth from moving around in the mouth. Older people should get the retainers, as teeth are prone to drifting in adulthood, and the retainers will keep the teeth in the arch. Moreover, it prevents vices such as clenching tongue thrust and improves oral hygiene, speech, and breathing.
