Taking retainers off briefly

[hare]

Occasionally I get peckish enough that I take my retainers off for a snack, especially if it's preventing me from sleeping. I'm supposed to wear my retainers 8 hours a day, ideally overnight during sleep.

My question is, would taking the retainers off before 8 hours has elapsed reset this to any degree?

e.g. if I wore the retainers for 6 hours, took them off for 10-20 minutes for a snack and then put them on again, would I need to wear them for anything longer than the remaining 2 hours?

I almost always wear them for at least 15-30 minutes longer than 8 hours anyway (sometimes even a few hours more) but would like to know about this just in case.

[Bracingfor33]

I'm sure having it out for that short amount of time won't hurt. I would just be sure to not make a habit out of removing it; bad habits happen quick.

[jaime]

Taking them out briefly isn't a big deal at all, so no worries. There isn't anything magical about 8 hours.

You're right, it's more about not developing the habit of leaving it out. As long as you're more or less doing what they tell you, you'll be okay. I'm supposed to wear mine 24/7 but I have left it out for hours at a time if it just wasn't feasible to keep it in (e.g. Christmas, out for a meal at a restaurant). My ortho's office told me up front it's fine to do that if need be, just don't get lazy.

If it's any consolation, I didn't get my retainer for 2 weeks after my braces came off and I was perfectly fine.