So I got my braces off...

[llama62]

Now I have to wear a retainer full time for like 4 months.
If any of y'all have had a retainer, how does it compare to braces?

 

[Disney.Ears]

I didn't get my braces off yet, but all I know is:
WEAR YOUR RETAINER! OR YOU'LL BE SORRY
Seriously though, the retainer is really important. Otherwise your teeth will shift :/

 

[Ppufi]

I have to wear my retainer every night, forever. And yes, don't miss too many days, or it won't fit.

 

[Cinderelli16]

I have a retainer, and it's clear too.
When I first got my braces off I had to wear it for a year full time.
Now I just have to wear it at night time, but I still choose to wear it full time anyway.
My Ortho said that I will have to wear my retainer till I'm 18 though. :/

But seriously WEAR YOUR REATINER! Because if you don't your teeth will shift, and I'm sure your parents won't be too happy about that. One of my friends didn't wear her retainer, and she ended up having to get braces again.

 

[Babyjustrun]

Mine aren't off yet, but I'll only have a little wire behind my bottom teeth that I can basically ignore other than for flossing.
And then I'll have one to wear only at night. I don't know how long, I never asked. I don't really care how long... it's at night.

 

[Aimbier31]

i just wear mine at night and the other day my mom accidentaly threw it out nd i had to go digging threw the garbage it was gross

 

[ilovedisney1]

I still have braces, but I will get a retainer soon.

 

[Jasmine45]

I have a retainer.
I hate it.
Braces are Wayyy better, I think.

 

[Cali_Sparrow]

I have a permanent retainer on the bottom which is actually kinda nice, and a regular one for the top. I tried to wear that when I first got it but it made me lisp so much that people had no idea what I was saying. So they carved out the middle to help me, and it didn't work.
So I just wore it at night for like a year and now I don't wear it at all and I'm fine.

Granted, I am 18 so I am probably older than you and the bone is more solid (less chances of moving). I just had my wisdom teeth removed and that usually causes more movement, but mine were just on the bottom so I'm covered.

Braces were much easier to get used to than a retainer, those things are just nasty choking hazards.

 

[diva122094]

I have a retainer,i got it in May.
You should wear it all the time or else your teeth will move and it hurts when you put it back in.
I would actually rather wear braces cause i hate taking my retainer in and out.
But i have had my retainer for about 4 months now.

 

[llamasrcool]

Yeah I hate my retainer...it's SO annoying lol but I rather have pretty teeth, than the braces lol

 

[PurpleDucky]

I have a permanent retainer on my top and bottom teeth. It's a wire glued to the back of your top and bottom four front teeth. It's nice, a lot better than a normal one.

 

[KitKat_Tink]

I will be getting one when i get my braces off but i only will have it at night for 2 years.

 

[sallyfan]

I got my braces off last December. I have worn my retainer every night since then, even when I spent 3 nights in the hospital last night. I find the retainer to be much better than braces. After getting braces off, it is so awesome to eat and not have food stuck all over. Like

 

[Justinex3]

i find the retainer sometimes better and sometimes worse than braces.

Better because: you can take it out,no more food stuck in your teeth, & i find them better looking than braces.

Worse because: the lisp at the beggining&you can take them out and sometimes forget to put them back in (very tempting not to but them back in)

 

[tinkerbell12]

I heard, and it seems everyone else has, that you should always wear the retainer.

Put it in listerine, or some other strong mouthwash every week. It gets rid of germs and helps fight the icky nasty goop that'll rub off your teeth onto it.
Also, I heard brush it once daily. Don't put it in napkins, those accidentally get thrown away a lot.

I don't even have mine, but the other day in the orthodontist, the kid next to me was getting his xD