Totally relate to this. Honestly, I spent months convinced my orthodontist was just messing with me—tightening wires and nothing budging. Then one random morning, I glanced in the mirror and thought, "Wait a sec...whose teeth are these?" 😂 Seriously though, progress sneaks up on you. It's slow and frustrating at first, but trust me, you'll wake up one day and realize how far you've come. Hang tight, it's worth it.
I felt exactly the same during my braces journey. It always seemed like nothing was happening, and I was constantly worried something was wrong or that my teeth were just too stubborn. I even started taking weekly pics just to reassure myself! Did anyone else ever get anxious about their teeth shifting back after braces? I've been wearing retainers religiously, but still... the anxiety's real.
Totally get the anxiety about teeth shifting back—I still catch myself checking mine in the mirror way too often, even years later. Did your orthodontist mention anything about eventually reducing how often you wear retainers? Mine said I could eventually go down to a few nights a week, but honestly, I'm kinda hesitant... Has anyone tried cutting back on retainer use and noticed any shifting? Curious if it's really safe long-term.
I had braces myself years ago, and honestly, I was pretty lax about my retainer after a while—big mistake. My teeth definitely shifted slightly, nothing drastic but enough to bug me. From what I've seen professionally, everyone's teeth have a natural tendency to shift over time, even without orthodontic history. Reducing retainer use can be okay for some people, but it's super individual. I'd say if you're already anxious about it, maybe stick with nightly wear or at least check in regularly with your ortho to monitor things...
I get your point, but honestly, nightly retainer use forever seems a bit excessive. I've reduced mine to a couple nights a week for years now, and my teeth haven't budged noticeably. Maybe it's more about consistency than frequency...?
