Has anyone else had braces?

Question

I got braces on I believe it was the summer of 2015 and had them until fall of 2016. I have my retainer which works fine but I’ve noticed that sometimes my cheek swells up and my jaw will hurt. I had my wisdom teeth taken out before getting my braces. Is this my teeth moving or do I possibly need to contact my doctor?

Answer

If you’re not wearing your retainer as instructed then it’s possible your teeth are shifting and then when you do wear your retainer it’s trying to correct the shift and causing your mouth to swell and be in pain. I believe the first year your retainer should be worn all the time and then after the first year, if you choose to, you can wear just at night. I wish I had worn mine all the time. My teeth haven’t shifted much, but enough for me to tell when I try to wear my retainer.

Answer

I had braces 20 years ago (man do I feel old doing that math!) And my teeth still sometimes shift a little. I remember regularly biting the insides of my checks after I got the braces off. I think it was because the braces had held them away from my teeth for so long. I would definitely mention these things to your dentist. It could be nothing, but it could be signs that something is going on.

Has anyone else had braces?

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