Crooked or misaligned teeth can be fixed in various ways, like metallic braces, Invisalign, lingual brackets, etc. After spending many years and money perfecting your smile, you are excited to flaunt your new and improved smile with well-aligned teeth when you finally take it off.

After braces have fixed your alignment issues, you must wear retainers for the recommended amount of time in a day and for a prescribed duration. If you fail to do so, your misalignment of oral structure can come back.

So, if you find your teeth shifting back to their old position after removing braces, it would feel like a nightmare to you at first. But the next question that might come to your mind is, “ Can I use my retainers to fix this slight shift?” In short, there is no guarantee. But retainers have been used at times if you require only minor corrections.

If you wish to read more about why teeth shift back to their original position when you remove braces, the role of retainers, and if they can fix such slight shifts, then continue reading the article to find out all this.

What are Retainers?

Many teeth straightening appliances, such as metallic braces, and Invisalign, can move your teeth to their correct positions. But after the treatment, your teeth may return to their original position. Retainers are the appliances that prevent this shifting.

• Right after the appliance is removed after teeth straightening, your dentist cleans them.
• The dentist would then make a customized retainer to fit around your teeth. 
• They could either be temporary or permanent.
• Irrespective of the type of retainer you have, their main job is to prevent shifting back of your denture to its earlier incorrect position.
• Typically you would need to wear this appliance for a minimum of six months throughout the day and only at night for one to three years.

Why Do Teeth Tend to Shift Back After Removing Braces

Braces apply tension on your teeth to move them to their desired positions. Once that pressure is removed, your gums and bones will try to return to their misaligned condition. 

• That is why wearing your retainers after any orthodontic treatment is crucial.
• Your body changes throughout your lifetime; the same goes for your bones and gums. So, whether you wore braces or not, your oral structure would change as you age.
• If you do not wear the retainer according to the exact schedule provided by your orthodontist, your teeth might get misaligned.
• The shifting occurs over time, becoming noticeable when you realize it. If you wait too long before using corrective measures, you might have to wear braces once again for a shorter time.

Retainers and Small Shifts in Teeth – What to Expect

While retainers are not guaranteed to work in slight shifting of teeth, there have been many instances when small movements were achieved. They have sometimes been used to make very few corrections and can be used if your teeth have moved slightly out of their desired positions once the braces are removed.

• Retainers must fit your teeth snugly and ideally to do their work.
• Only minimal shifts are possible by using retainers.
• Retainers can not be adjusted as the metal aligners or brackets were being adjusted during your orthodontic treatment,
• If your teeth have shifted from their correct place, you will feel discomfort wearing retainers.
• If the retainer is not shaped precisely as the positioning of your teeth, then there is a high chance it will damage your oral condition.
• Your orthodontist is the only person who can advise on whether wearing retainers to correct your teeth’ position will not damage them slightly.
• Retainers can not be used for more significant shifts since they do not have the capability of precise control and can not guarantee predictable movements.

Once your braces are removed, you must wear and take care of your retainers to keep that beautiful alignment intact. If you have not been wearing them and feel that teeth are shifting, contact your dentist immediately. If the shift is minor, your retainers can get them back in place. But if it’s big, you might have to start wearing braces again for a short time.