After your braces are taken off, there is a possibility of
relapse. There is a tendency that your teeth have to return to
their original positions.   To prevent this from happening,
orthodontists recommend wearing an orthodontic retainer. There
are various kinds of retainers. Some are fixed - they are bonded
or cemented to the teeth. The most common type are removable,
like the Hawley appliance pictured on the right.   How long
should you wear it? Until there is no more chance that your
teeth will move. Your orthodontist will recommend a period of
time. But sometimes their estimates are inaccurate, and the best
gauge is your own teeth. If you retainer has been out of your
mouth for, say, two days, and you try to put it back in, you'll
be able to tell if your teeth moved in the meantime. If they
have, it's too early to go without it for that period of time.
Wait a week, or a month, or longer, and try to put your retainer
back in. Did your teeth move? If so, keep wearing it.   My
recommendation is to keep weari