eli5: If osteoclasts and osteoblasts restructure bone density while wearing braces, why do teeth shift back to their original positions if a retainer isn’t regularly worn? Why isn’t the change in bone density permanent?

Question

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In: Biology

Answer 1

Sometimes the configuration of our teeth is affected by other things like the way our jaw structure affects our bite, the way we swallow, tongue habits, and things like that. Those don’t change after you have braces. So, for example, a retainer might help keep your teeth in place even though all night long you are unconsciously pushing out on them with your tongue.