Metal Mouth Message Board

How long before your teeth really "set" into their new positions after you get your braces off? I got mine off almost four months ago and I can still wiggle my teeth around with my fingers.

Hi tinman, I'd actually like to add to your question. I know retainers keep teeth in place and "settle" your teeth but they adjust retainers and are constantly tightening them.. it makes your teeth move on occasion. How can they settle if the retainers being adjusted can move teeth still? I just got mine adjusted and my teeth moved again.... im confused on how this all works.

Hi Tinman, my othrodontist told me it could take up to a year for my teeth to settle and firm up within the bone. Brooke, As for them moving and needing adjustments, bone breaks down and reforms, and since our teeth want to go back to their original positons, we need the retainers tweeked. This is just how I look at it....

TinMan, Man it's been a while since I posted here. I have been in retainers for about 8 months and my teeth still feel a little loose. My son who has been in retainers for five years still tells me his teeth feel a little loose. With that being said, I normally only wear my retainers for half the day. When I put them back in they are tight for about 30 seconds. If I leave them out for the whole day I notice even more pressure when I put my retainers back.