From Braces to Retainer After Age 35

It’s been a year since I got braces. Actually the time went by fairly quickly. Of course the brace were only on five bottom teeth.  Well the braces are off. It’s been a week, and I’m still getting use to not having them. I did have to learn to speak again.

Just to rehash why I got braces in the first place, I am reaping the rewards of my love of basketball, NOT.  Sure I played basketball since high school, and now play in the over 35 league, occasionally.  So what was I thinking playing a pickup game with my high school age nephews?  I was all caught up in the moment.  Well I got hit in the mouth with an elbow.  Sure when I was 16 getting hit was part of the game, but not now.  Not only did I give up the game (10-2), but I nearly loss my teeth.  The teeth were loose and needed to be stabilized.  I now have something in common with my kids.   We all have “railroad tracks” (braces) on our teeth.  Mine are the five bottom front teeth.   My orthodontist will probably get a mortgage payment or two out of this.

After treatment, I have to wear a retainer all the time, except during meals. I thought the retainer would be a problem, but sometime I am eating and forget to take it out. I am a grazer, eating all day. I do feel uncomfortable if I don’t brush my teeth after meals and before replacing the retainer. The retainers cover my entire bottom teeth, not just the actual five.

If you’ve even seen the commercials for invisible braces or clear braces– that my retainer. No one knows I’m wearing it. It really makes my teeth look good, all even, smooth, and straight.  The word “Retain” means to hold something together or hold something back according to the dictionary. Well for six weeks I wear a retainer to keep my teeth together, so they don’t shift back, to keep them stable and in place.  My dentist instructions were an orthodontic retainer is an oral appliance which is used to hold the teeth stable and in alignment. Retainers are usually used after orthodontic treatment is completed. My retainer is removable. I did have the option of having a fixed retainer. After the braces, I didn’t want anything I couldn’t remove.

Clear retainers act like a corset for the teeth, and keep everything very snugly aligned. The clear aligners are more comfortable to wear than the braces.  I’ve thought about using the clear retainers as bleaching trays to help whiten the teeth by holding tooth whitening strips in place.  This is especially good at night.

Clear retainer can serve double duty as a night guards as well for people who grind their teeth (bruxism). I really have to remember to remove the retainer when I eat so that they don’t get stained or clouded. I don’t want to put a hole in it from chewing /grinding. I have cases for my retainer so that I don’t throw it away by mistake. When I take it out to eat, I put it in the case. I also use the case to soak my retainer for cleaning.

Well after six week I may only have to wear the retainer at night. I’ll have to let you know the ending to this story.