Teeth can shift back after braces due to muscle memory and the pressure being relieved.
The teeth move after braces because pressure from the braces is lost, the ligaments activate their muscle memory and remember the old positions of your teeth, shifting them back after your braces treatment.
So with that said the wearing of a retainer is the next crucial step to prevent orthodontic relapse.
Your teeth can move for a variety of different reasons.
Some common reasons your teeth may move include periodontal disease, teeth grinding, not wearing a retainer, and plain old aging are all potential causes of shifting teeth.
When your teeth are no longer aligned and they are shifting, it can happen for a few reasons.
It can happen because you are sleeping on one side, or it could be because you grind your teeth.
You may also discover that your teeth are shifting because your dental habits aren't good.
To stop your teeth from hurting from shifting try sucking on some ice, use an oral anesthetic, teeth pain relieving medicine or even some Red Cross Toothache medicine.
You can also take some pain medicine such as Ibuprofen or Aspirin which can help ease the pain from teeth shifting.
Teeth shifting is normal although it can be caused by other things such as periodontal disease, teeth grinding, not wearing a retainer, and plain old aging are all potential causes of shifting teeth.
Teeth shifting is perfectly normal to experience as you age.
Unfortunately, it's not always comfortable, nor is it healthy.
When your teeth shift and your bite changes, your dental health is in jeopardy.
You can experience more dental issues, including dental decay, and gum disease.
Even if you never had braces, Invisalign or Invisalign Teen, or you wore your retainer for a few years and then stopped using it, the teeth can continue to move after the age of 35 and beyond.
Studies suggest that there are natural age-related changes to the jaw and soft tissues that occur throughout our lives.
It's also a common stress response: people clench or grind their teeth while they're awake and under stress, often without realizing.
Grinding and clenching your teeth puts pressure on your teeth, which can shift them in different directions.
If the space is left empty after tooth loss or extraction, the surrounding teeth will slowly move in, changing your overall bite and even your appearance.
Fortunately, orthodontic devices such as spacers, retainers or implants can help maintain your teeth's proper alignment.
The results of the first studies, based on the movement of 30 teeth in 15 subjects over 84 days, have been summarized in a recent publication.
1 These results showed that the overall mean velocity of tooth movement was 3.8 mm/day, or about 1.1 mm/month.