Metal Mouth Message Board

I use denture tablets myself but with the green color and so far, I haven't noticed any discoloration.

My ortho said to just use water, but my retainers stink so bad. So I use hand soap and a brush very slowly at least once a day and I soak twice a week with denture cleaner for 5 minutes.

Retainer wear is for life, but they do need to be replaced from time to time because they do wear out.

Hm. I've never heard of Essix retainers lasting that long. I was told by my ortho that they should be replaced 6 months to after a year of use because they will wear out and lose strength. I think that is what probably happened to you. Your retainers wore out a long time ago.

I went to an actual orthodontist. I had braces for 2.9 years. 6 month smiles is a system done by general dentists, not orthodontists.

After 2.5 years of braces I didnt even notice they were there, I was so comfortable with them that I kind of missed them once they were off. I was very motivated through all the process and I didnt mind the extra year I had to wear them. 2.9 years for me. The only thing I don't miss is all the extr...

It took 5 months for me to see any significant progress. My teeth were very stubborn and only my bottom incisors noticeably moved those first 5 months. Your teeth might be stubborn as well.

By my experience so far, I'd say get Hawleys at least for night time wear. You will gradually destroy your Essix retainers. I clench a lot myself and it seems like I clench more with Essix. I still clench with the Hawleys on, but it's a lot less and I won't destroy the retainers if I do.

Black and any of the darker colors, especially for the top arch. They made my teeth look less yellow.

They stabilized, but they were wobbly with some adjustments again. They're wobbly now after I got debonded. I'm hoping they stabilize again. It's only been a little more than two weeks.

I have both Hawley and Essix retainers. I got the Essix by default (every patient gets them with the treatment plan) and bought the Hawleys. I received it a couple of hours after debonding, so I didn't have any major pain. Just a bit of soreness here and there. I got the Hawleys two weeks after debo...

That happened to me, especially because I have some gum recession. Incisors were more wobbly for me than the others.

Essix retainers and some Hawleys don't let the teeth touch. It's the way they are. You're fine.

They're fine. I wore the Hawleys to bed and I was able to put on my Essix retainers back on in the morning. I might be using both for now. This way I will have a backup especially while in full-time wear.

I also miss changing lig colors every adjustment. And this is going to sound weird, but I also miss wearing elastics.