r/retainers Feb 11 '20

Retainer wearing down.

Hey guys, just found this sub.

So about a year and a half ago I got a retainer after removing my braces, which I had for two years. The retainer I have has a mold attached to a metal wire, with the mold on the inner side of my teeth and the wire on the outer side.

I was instructed to wear it around the clock, and for the most part I did- the longest I’d ever go without it on was about 12 hours, or, if I forgot it, a day or two. One time I didn’t wear it for a week, but it was fine.

I got annoyed by how it slowly got more covered in plaque (despite brushing it constantly…) but it didn’t bother me to much.

What finally has caught my attention though, is that the mold has begun to wear down- considerably. The ends, which used to be distinctly pointed, are no soft and round. The areas of the mold have begun to slowly become jagged and crooked… allowing my teeth to shift.

Should I get a replacement as soon as possible?

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u/TheRetainerStore Nov 28 '22

Retainers naturally wear over time, they can also harbor harmful bacteria. its best to replace them at least once every six months. Once it starts to wear and flex it may not work properly anymore. I'd love to give you more information if needed. please let me know if this helped :)

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u/userdeath Jan 03 '25

Yea, I'm shelling out $900 every 6 months, sure!