Will wearing my retainer every day help me teeth become straighter, or will they just always go back?

[Anonymous]

i stopped wearing my retainers too early when I was younger, and as a result my teeth have shifted. (darn my stupid teenage brain for not wearing them!) anyway, if I start wearing my retainer ever night will it help bring them back? I have tried this and it works (kills like a mother******) but id do it. the only thing is that during the day they shift back! ugh! but if I do this continuously every night will it help? should I wear them during the day too? its just annoying having to take them out every time I eat though ugh...

Updates

+1 y

braces and invisalign are out of the question for me, my parent would never pay for them again and invisalign is too expensive.

[Anonymous]

yes I did the same thing even tho I had a reason not to wear my retainer I went to my orthodontist and told him when I wear my retainer on my top that my front two teeth go crooked and my other ones move to become straight because I have a permanent retainer on my front two teeth and my bottom teeth also(so I don't have to wear a bottom retainer) he just shaved some plastic off it and it didn't work so I never wore well I started wearing my Monday all day because I take it out in my sleep and basically my teeth are almost back to the way they were when I first got mine off so yes wear your retainer for at leas 5 hours a day and they will go back because my mom said the same thing she wasn't going to pay for me to get new braces so KEEP wearing it all week

[Asker]

but did they switch back permanently? how long did uou wear them for? a couple months?

[Opinion Owner]

well no my teeth never stayed straight I always had to wear my retainer mine shift so fast my brother hasn't worn his in months and his stayed straight he only wears it like once every six months so if something did shift it goes back

[peace-love-couture]

The problem with situations like this is that often times people find it hard to even wear the retainer because it won't fit

If it still fits, then wear it every night. You should have worn it to begin with but if it fits, wear it while you sleep. It'll shift them back but you have to continue doing that

If it doesn't fit, MAYBE they can fit you for another retainer(it may cost anywhere from $25-$450)

[martyfellow]

Why not ask the dentist? It should't cost much to get an answer on this question. Consider paying for it yurself since otherwise you will have a lifetime of problems with your teeth. Maybe your parents wold pay for half? It shouldn't cost as much since part of the work has already been done..

[Anonymous]

This is good to know. I haven't worn mine in 4 years. (although my teeth haven't shifted at all - at least not enough for me to notice)