That clicking and popping is classic—I always joke it’s your jaw’s way of saying, “Whoa, what’s this new hardware?” Totally normal, especially if your bite’s still settling in. I remember my own retainer phase… every time I’d yawn, it sounded like I was opening a creaky old door. The wobbly teeth thing is freaky, but they’re not going anywhere (unless you use your retainer as a bottle opener, which I do not recommend). Give it a bit, your mouth will chill out soon enough.
The wobbly teeth thing is freaky, but they’re not going anywhere (unless you use your retainer as a bottle opener, which I do not recommend).
Haha, yeah, the wobbly feeling is weird. I keep poking at my teeth because it just feels off—they’re not loose, but it’s like my brain thinks they might be? Also, anyone else get those weird pressure headaches from the retainer? My ortho said it’s “normal,” but honestly I’m wondering if it’s just because I went with the cheapest option. Does it matter if your retainer isn’t the fanciest, or is it all basically the same?
I get those headaches too, especially when I first pop the retainer in after not wearing it for a few hours. I’ve wondered if the material or fit makes a difference—mine’s just the standard clear plastic, nothing fancy. Has anyone tried one of those wire ones? Do they feel different, or is it all just about getting used to having something in your mouth again?
I’ve had both the clear plastic kind and the wire ones glued behind my teeth (the “permanent” retainer). Honestly, the wire one felt way less awkward after a couple days, and I didn’t get those headaches from popping it in and out. Downside is, if you’re on a tight budget like me, fixing it if it pops off isn’t cheap. The plastic ones are way easier to lose, though... I’ve fished mine out of the trash more times than I’d admit.
I think the headaches are mostly just your teeth shifting a bit when you go without the retainer for a while. The material might make a small difference, but it’s probably more about your teeth moving back and forth. I just try to wear mine as much as I can (which is annoying, but cheaper than getting braces again). Eventually your mouth gets used to it—promise!
My kid just got her braces off last month and she’s still getting used to her retainer. Honestly, she complained way more about the clear plastic one than I expected—said it made her lisp at first and felt “weirdly tight.” The orthodontist warned us that if you skip it for even a day or two, your teeth can start shifting again, which lines up with what you said about headaches. I guess it’s just part of the process, but it does make me wonder if there are ways to make wearing the retainer less uncomfortable, especially for younger kids who are already self-conscious.
Has anyone found tricks or routines that help make the adjustment easier? Like, does wearing it at certain times of day help, or maybe practicing talking out loud with it in? My daughter’s pretty motivated to keep her teeth straight, but she’s definitely counting down the days until she doesn’t need it anymore...
