Short answer: yes, retainers help, and the usual reason they fail is that they stay in the case. Without a retention phase, teeth tend to relapse, which means drifting back towards where they began (Martin et al., 2023).
- Retainers help hold teeth after braces.
- Research hasn’t shown that one type beats the others.
- The wearing schedule is the part you control.
What do the trials show?
A 2023 Cochrane review pooled 47 trials of fixed and removable retainers. It rated the evidence low to very low certainty, so it couldn’t name one approach as better than another (Martin et al., 2023). Most trials followed people for under a year.
That’s a reason to choose with your dentist, not a reason to skip a retainer. Your own habits, your cleaning and what your dentist sees in your mouth all count.
Fixed or removable?
- Fixed: a thin wire bonded behind the front teeth. Nothing to remember, but harder to clean around.
- Removable: a clear tray or plate. Easier to clean around, and it only works when you wear it.
In one trial of full-time clear retainers, people had less gum bleeding than people with fixed wires, but more retainer failures (Martin et al., 2023). One trial can’t settle the question, which is why fit and habits matter.
What about wearing one at night?
Many removable retainers are worn in bed, so a few night-time questions are worth asking.
Do you wake with a sore jaw, or hear yourself grinding? A retainer holds position. A custom-made mouthguard is what protects teeth from grinding (healthdirect, teeth grinding). Tell us if you also snore or wake unrefreshed, since sleep grinding goes with other sleep disorders more often, and your doctor may need to check (healthdirect, teeth grinding).
Getting the most from yours
- Follow the wearing schedule your dentist gives you.
- Rinse and brush it every day, and store it in its case rather than wrapped in a tissue.
- Bring it along to your check-ups so your dentist can see how well it fits.
- Call us if it cracks, feels tight or goes missing.
For where to get a replacement, see where can you get a retainer.
Sources
Where To Read Next
Want more on this topic? This page goes further, and it lists questions to bring to your visit.
Airway, Sleep & Breathing Guide
