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My teeth started shifting again even with retainers - anyone relate?
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I've been wearing my retainers pretty regularly since getting my braces off a few years ago, but lately I've noticed my bottom teeth seem to be shifting slightly. It's subtle, but I swear they're not as straight as they used to be. I mean, I admit I've skipped a night here and there (oops), but overall I'm pretty good about it. Is this normal? Like, can your teeth still shift even if you're mostly consistent with your retainer?
I was kinda hoping braces were a one-and-done thing, you know? Now I'm paranoid that I'll wake up one day and they'll be all crooked again and I'll have to go through the whole braces nightmare again. Has anyone else had something similar happen? Did you have to get new retainers or did it just sort itself out eventually?
2 replies
I totally get your frustration - went through something similar myself. Teeth can definitely shift a bit even if you're pretty consistent with retainers, especially the bottom ones (mine did exactly that). My ortho explained that teeth naturally move slightly over time, retainer or not. I ended up getting a new retainer molded to my teeth after they shifted slightly, and it helped keep things stable from there. Honestly, it's probably nothing major, but maybe check in with your ortho just to ease your mind?
Yeah, I had a similar experience - my bottom teeth shifted slightly even though I wore my retainers religiously. My ortho said it's pretty common, especially if your retainer is older or worn out. I debated getting a new one molded, but honestly, the cost made me hesitate (retainers aren't exactly cheap...). Ended up just keeping an eye on it for now since it's minor. Might revisit the idea if things get worse, but so far it's manageable.
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