Was munching popcorn last night (yes, I know, genius move lol) and felt a weird snap. Turns out my bottom retainer cracked clean in half. I'm not in pain or anything, but it's pretty uncomfortable and I'm worried my teeth might start shifting again. Dentist office isn't open until Monday, and I really don't wanna deal with emergency dental fees if I can avoid it, you know?
Has anyone ever temporarily fixed their retainer at home? Like maybe some safe glue or tape or something? Or would that just be a terrible idea? I'm open to suggestions, even the weird ones. Just trying to survive the weekend without messing up my teeth again.
Honestly, I'd steer clear of glue or tape—sounds like a recipe for disaster (or at least a weird taste in your mouth...). When mine snapped last year, I just wore the two halves separately as best I could until my appointment. It wasn't perfect, but it kept things mostly in place. Teeth don't shift dramatically overnight, so you should be fine until Monday. Hang in there, popcorn warrior!
"Honestly, I'd steer clear of glue or tape—sounds like a recipe for disaster (or at least a weird taste in your mouth...)."
Haha, totally agree with this. When my daughter's retainer cracked, our orthodontist specifically warned us against DIY fixes like glue or adhesives because they're not safe for oral use. Instead, he recommended gently placing the pieces back in separately if possible, just to maintain spacing temporarily. Teeth shifting is pretty gradual, so a couple days won't cause major issues. Just keep it clean and avoid sticky or crunchy foods until Monday rolls around. Good luck!
Yeah, definitely skip the glue route. When mine snapped, I panicked and tried taping it—huge mistake, tasted awful and didn't even hold. Like mentioned earlier:
"Teeth shifting is pretty gradual, so a couple days won't cause major issues."
Just keep it clean and hang tight till Monday...you'll be fine.
Haha, popcorn strikes again...been there, done that. When mine broke, I briefly considered the glue route too, but thankfully chickened out after imagining myself explaining that mess to my dentist. Good call skipping tape as well—sounds nasty.
Honestly, holding out till Monday is probably your best bet, like others said. Teeth don't usually shift super fast. I remember freaking out when mine snapped on a camping trip (talk about timing), but after three days I was totally fine—just felt weirdly paranoid the whole weekend.
In the meantime, maybe stick to softer foods so you don't accidentally irritate your gums or anything. Smoothies and mashed potatoes were my best friends for a couple days. Hang in there, Monday will roll around quicker than you think.
