I’ve heard people saying things about getting a retainer after they’ve gotten their braces off. Why do you your teeth still move after braces have been taken off?
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Imagine your teeth are being held in by rubber bands (a combination of ligaments, bone and other things). Braces help to align teeth by stretching these rubber bands and making them move to where you want them.
Once your braces are removed, the rubber bands have lost a little of there elasticity because they have been gradually moved with constant force over time, but they still have a tendency to want to shift back to their original position.
Retainers you are given after you take off your braces are there to help oppose the force of the teeth wanting to shift back. When you first get your braces removed, you are supposed to wear them most of the time and, over time, the rubber bands become less elastic so you can transition to every other night.
I tried my best to explain it the way I was told. I’m a final year dental student and this is how I saw a orthodontist explain it to a child about to remove their braces. Hope this helps.
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