Question

How long do I have to wear my retainer for 24 hours a day?

Answer 1

When your dentist tells you that you have to wear your retainer for 24 hours per day you need to wear your retainer for 24 hours for the first 8 weeks.

Then you can switch to wearing the retainer for only 12 hours per day.

If you fail to wear the retainer for 24 hours for at least the 8 weeks then your teeth can shift back to where they were defeating the purpose of the retainer.

Wearing your retainer for at least 24 hours per day for the first 8 weeks is very crucial after the teeth have been moved to a new position because the teeth are the least stable during this time and are more susceptible to shifting.

It can be hard to get used to wearing the retainer 24 hours per day but those 8 weeks will pass really fast and then you can switch to wearing the retainer for only 12 hours per day.

Answer 2

Your teeth can shift back if you stop wearing your retainer.

It's important to keep wearing your retainer for as long as your dentist says you should.

Though the process becomes slower and slower, if you stop wearing your retainer, your teeth will gradually move back to their original position. In a way, teeth remember their original position.

If you don't wear your retainer, your teeth will eventually shift back to their old positions.

This is particularly true in the months and even years directly following treatment with aligners or braces.