Retainers...another question

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#1 Post by **AtomicSkier** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 11:42 am

Hey guys, I take my retainers out for school, and put them in at around 3:30 when I get back home from school. They still fit, and no tightness, or looseness, the retainers fit perfectly. But my parents are getting pissed...they want me to wear my retainers in school, buts its not convenient because I love to chew gum every period, and having retainers in, prohibits me from chewing gum.

Is it okay for me to leave them out for about 7-8 hours?

I heard that when you chew gum, your teeth don't shift as much because when you chew the gum, it keeps your teeth from moving...

Is that true?

#2 Post by **AtomicSkier** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 12:01 pm

Well, I don't people coming up to me after lunch saying "Dude, you have stank breath." Which I think means you need a tic-tac....and I need to do something besides learning so I won't fall asleep.

#3 Post by **AtomicSkier** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 12:38 pm

I just like chewing gum, its fun.

But is it safe to keep my retainers out even if I put them in right after school?

#4 Post by **AtomicSkier** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 12:41 pm

Don't pay attention to this....

#5 Post by **bbsadmin** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 5:45 pm

You should ask your orthodontist about this to put both you and your parents at ease. Your orthodontist may very well say that it's OK as long as you put them back in when you get home. But you really should call and ask before you continue.

How many hours do you spend with the retainers out of your mouth? How long has it been since your braces were taken off?

#6 Post by **Betty Bat** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 6:19 pm

Sorry to hear about your problem, Meryaten. Is that something new?

P.S. To the original poster: I have an Essix on my uppers and I wore it 24/7 for the first two weeks and wear only at night now. I figure that I wear it about 12 hours a day. BUT, this is what my ortho told me to do. I think you really have to talk to your ortho about your specific case. I don't know why mine seems to be more "lenient" than others.

My lowers were taken off on 9/4 and I'm scheduled to get my retainer on 9/12, so I can't comment on that.

It's lovely being without braces. Much faster to floss.

#7 Post by **Betty Bat** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:34 am

Meryaten,
That's an interesting reaction and I don't think I've heard anything about it from anyone else (see, I knew you were special!). Just wondering if there is anyone else with the same reaction. I know that I sometimes gag just a little when I first put my upper Essix in, but the feeling doesn't last very long.