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Larson Family Orthodontics
Published in: Blog

Can I Use My Old Retainer to Re-straighten My Teeth?

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If your teeth have started to shift after braces or Invisalign, you might be wondering: Can I just use my old retainer to push them back into place? It’s a common question, especially if the thought of restarting orthodontic treatment sounds overwhelming. Using your old retainer to re-straighten your teeth can work in some cases, but it also carries risks. Here’s what you need to know.

Why Teeth Shift After Braces

After orthodontic treatment, your teeth need time to stabilize in their new positions. This is why retainers are essential; they hold your teeth in place as the surrounding bone and tissue adapt. If you stop wearing your retainer regularly, your teeth can gradually drift out of alignment. This shifting can happen over months or even years.

Can an Old Retainer Still Fit?

The first thing to check is whether your old retainer even fits. If it’s been a long time since you’ve worn it, you might find that it feels tight or uncomfortable. In some cases, it might not fit at all. If your teeth have shifted significantly, forcing an ill-fitting retainer into place can cause pain, damage, or even worsen the alignment.

If your retainer still fits snugly without causing pain, it might be able to hold your teeth where they are, or even gently guide them back into better alignment. But this should only be attempted under the guidance of a dental professional.

The Risks of Using an Old Retainer

While it might be tempting to use your old retainer as a DIY fix, there are several risks:

  • Improper Fit: If your retainer no longer fits your teeth precisely, it can place uneven pressure on them, leading to discomfort or damage.
  • Cracks or Wear: Old retainers may be weakened from age or use, making them less effective or prone to breaking.
  • Unsupervised Movement: Teeth need to be moved carefully and in the right sequence. Using a retainer not designed for your current dental situation could result in bite problems or gum recession.

What You Should Do Instead

The best first step is to schedule a visit with your orthodontist. They can assess how much your teeth have moved and determine the best course of action. In some cases, your old retainer can be used temporarily to prevent further shifting. In others, you may need a new retainer or a short course of aligner treatment to correct the relapse.

Modern orthodontic solutions, like clear aligners, are often quicker and more affordable than you might expect, especially if only minor corrections are needed.

While your old retainer might seem like a convenient solution to shifting teeth, it’s not always safe or effective to use it without professional input. If your smile isn’t looking as straight as it used to, don’t wait – talk to your dentist. With the right guidance, you can restore your smile safely and efficiently without risking further problems.

About the Author

Dr. Nathan Larson is a graduate of the Midwestern University’s College of Dental Medicine. After graduating, he joined the U.S. Air Force and spent a year doing an Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency followed by a residency at the University of Texas at Houston, where he became a board-certified orthodontist. Dr. Larson and our team can offer different orthodontic appliances including removable or fixed retainers and temporary anchorage devices. Schedule your appointment today through our website or call our office at (623) 400-3234.

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Loose Teeth

Are Loose Teeth an Emergency? Typically, a loose adult tooth immediately warrants an emergency visit. However, your teeth are expected to move during orthodontic treatment. So, unless it feels like it’s on the brink of falling out, you don’t need to panic. With that said, you’re always welcome to call our dental team if you have any questions or want to double-check if a symptom you’re experiencing is normal.

How You Should Handle Loose Teeth As we mentioned above, it’s normal for your teeth to feel slightly loose from time to time, particularly in the hours following an adjustment appointment or the transition to a new set of aligners. During that time, we strongly recommend eating only soft foods, like plain yogurt and oatmeal. It’s also important that you don’t wiggle your teeth with your finger or do anything else that could cause them to loosen further, like chewing on ice.

Broken/Lost Aligner or Retainer

Is a Broken/Lost Aligner or Retainer an Emergency? Patients often assume that orthodontic emergencies come with pain or discomfort. While that’s sometimes the case, a broken/lost aligner or retainer is considered an orthodontic emergency because – without a same-day appointment – the alignment of your teeth could be negatively impacted.

How You Should Handle a Broken or Lost Aligner/Retainer If you’ve lost yours, then try retracing your steps, looking in unexpected places in the process, like the pockets of the pants you were wearing earlier. If you can’t find them, then call us ASAP. We recommend doing the same if your aligner or retainer gets damaged so that we can quickly begin the process of having it repaired or replaced.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Is Having Something Stuck Between the Teeth an Emergency? As your teeth begin to move, you’ll notice a few changes, including that food can easily get stuck between them. The good news is that – with the right steps – you can usually remove it at home pretty quickly. Plus, if you have any trouble, you can always give us a call. We’re here to help make your entire orthodontic treatment as smooth and seamless as possible.

How You Should Handle Something Stuck Between the Teeth First, dissolve some salt in warm water and rinse the mixture in your mouth for 30 seconds or so. This should dislodge the debris or, at the very least, alleviate some inflammation in your gums. Then, grab your floss of choice and use it to gently clean between your teeth.

Cut Lips, Cheeks, or Tongue

Is a cut lip, cheek, or tongue an emergency? Minor cuts caused by braces aren’t usually emergencies, but deep or persistent bleeding caused by a vehicular accident or a blow to the face requires immediate attention. In most cases, we can help suture the wounds in your mouth. However, if bleeding doesn’t stop after 10 minutes of pressure, go to the nearest emergency room for help.

How you should handle a cut lip, cheek, or tongue: Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. Then, apply pressure with a clean gauze or paper towel to stop the bleeding. If you have some handy, use orthodontic wax to keep brackets or wires from irritating your wounds. Apply a cold compress or ice pack to the area to reduce swelling. Generic pain medication can also help keep the sting away until you can see us.

Broken Ligature

Is a broken ligature an emergency? A broken ligature (the small rubber band holding the wire to the bracket) isn’t always an emergency, but it can affect the efficiency of your braces. This is especially true if you have multiple breaks. In this case, it’s best to call us right away as there might be some underlying issue causing the band to snap.

How you should handle a broken ligature: If a rubber ligature simply slips off the bracket, you can try to reposition it using sterile tweezers. However, if you can’t seem to get it back into place, or it breaks completely, let us know. Until you make it into your appointment, cover any sharp edges with orthodontic wax or sugarless gum.

Mouth Sores or Irritation

Are mouth sores or irritation an emergency? Mouth sores caused by braces are fairly common and not typically considered an emergency. In general, smaller sores and irritation should disappear after a few days with a bit of care. However, if sores persist for more than a week or become infected, they need to be assessed and treated as soon as possible.

How you should handle mouth sores or irritation: First, rinse your mouth with warm salt water to kill bacteria that could cause infection. Next, apply orthodontic wax to brackets or wires that are causing irritation. Finally, use over-the-counter pain relievers or numbing gels as needed to keep the irritation at bay. If your sores worsen, call our office for an appointment. We’ll check your mouth and find an appropriate treatment to help you find relief.

Protruding/Poking Wire

Is a poking or protruding wire an emergency? A protruding wire can cause irritation or small cuts inside your mouth, but it’s not an urgent emergency. However, it should be addressed quickly to avoid further discomfort.

How you should handle a poking or protruding wire: First, use orthodontic wax to cover the sharp end and prevent irritation. If the wire is particularly irritating or painful, you can try to carefully push it back into place with a cotton swab or clean eraser. However, you should never try to cut or bend the wire yourself. If you need help, call our team and we’ll schedule an appointment to take care of you.

Broken Bracket or Wire

Is a broken bracket or wire an emergency? A broken bracket or wire isn’t dangerous, but it can be uncomfortable and negatively affect your treatment. Therefore, it should be fixed as soon as possible to avoid delaying your results or causing discomfort.

How you should handle a broken bracket or wire: First, it’s never a good idea to try to fix a broken orthodontic appliance on your own. As soon as you feel the break, let us know so we can schedule an appointment. While you’re waiting, if the wire is poking your cheek, use orthodontic wax to cover any sharp points or surfaces. If there are any pieces of the appliance like brackets that have broken off, put them in a small container and bring them with you to your appointment.

Loose Bracket or Wire

Is a loose bracket or wire an emergency? A loose bracket or wire isn’t generally an emergency, but it should be fixed as soon as possible to prevent further issues. If left untreated, it can cause irritation in your mouth and delay the progression of your treatment.

How you should handle a loose bracket or wire: If the bracket is still somewhat attached to the wire, leave it in place and cover it with orthodontic wax to prevent irritation. However, if the bracket has completely detached, keep it in a safe place and bring it to your next appointment. In most cases, we can simply reattach the bracket and bring your treatment back into alignment.

Toothache

Is a toothache an emergency? A mild toothache isn’t always an emergency, but severe or persistent pain could indicate a serious issue. Tooth pain in orthodontic treatment is common due to the process your teeth go through to shift into position. However, if it lasts more than a few days or is accompanied by swelling, fever, or difficulty chewing, contact our office immediately. It could be a sign of an infection or another dental problem that needs attention.

How you should handle toothaches: If the pain in your tooth doesn’t subside after a few days, reach out to us. We’ll schedule an emergency exam with you to find the root of the problem and go over your options. If the need arises, we can also refer you to a trusted specialist to ensure you get the right care. In the meantime, take some over-the-counter pain relievers, rinse your mouth with salt water, and apply ice packs to your cheek to ease discomfort. Flossing is also recommended to remove debris that could be the culprit.

Joyful Atmosphere

We believe in not sweating the small stuff and embracing the lighter side of life. Our goal is to make every visit an enjoyable moment in your day.

Obsession with Convenience

We understand life’s hustle and bustle. Traditional orthodontic practices might require visits every 4-6 weeks, but we know your time is precious. Leveraging digital orthodontics, remote monitoring, and 3D printing, we can offer fewer appointments without compromising on professional oversight.

Exemplary Standards

As a board-certified orthodontist, I treat every patient as I would my own family. I’m committed to providing care that I would deem fit for my children.

Commitment to Communication

We aim to seamlessly integrate into your life through effortless communication. Hate phone trees? We do too! That’s why we don’t have a phone tree or call center to answer you. We’ve also added straightforward text messaging and online appointment scheduling to make communication a breeze. You can even message us through the remote monitoring app.

Giving Back

We recognize our duty to give back and assist others with what we’ve received. 

Compassion

A little kindness goes a long way, and we strive to infuse it into every interaction.

Conservative Treatment Approach

We have immense faith in the body’s innate ability. Often, it knows precisely what to do. Our philosophy is not to rush into aggressive interventions. Instead, we favor treatments that are not only effective but also simple, elegant, and affordable. This belief is foundational to our practice—it’s why I established my own clinic. We never pressure or frighten people into premature treatments, particularly when they involve young children.

Absolute Integrity

At our core, we uphold the highest standards of honesty. We only recommend necessary treatments and firmly believe that fear has no place in healthcare. After all, crooked teeth are not a life-threatening issue.