As you transition from orthodontic treatment to wearing retainers, your mewing journey continues.
Maintaining proper tongue posture is crucial for preventing setbacks once the retainers come off.
By combining mewing with retainers, you can unlock remarkable transformations in your facial structure and achieve a more confident smile.
Let's explore how to effectively do mewing with retainers
Why Do We Need Retainers?
Before we delve into mewing with retainers, it's essential to understand the role of retainers in orthodontic aftercare.
Retainers act as a protective shield for your teeth, ensuring they maintain their corrected positions following orthodontic treatment, such as braces or Invisalign.
Functions of Retainers:
- Facilitating Proper Tongue Placement: Ensuring your tongue stays in the correct position.
- Preventing Teeth from Shifting: Keeping teeth aligned post-treatment.
- Further Aligning Teeth: Continuing the alignment process.
- Reducing Teeth Grinding: Helping prevent bruxism.
- Addressing Tongue Thrusting: Preventing open bites caused by improper tongue posture.
Your teeth are housed in the alveolar bone, a part of your jawbone responsible for holding your teeth.
This bone exhibits a high rate of remodeling but still requires approximately a year to adapt to your new tooth positions.
During this phase, temporary gaps in your jaw may appear, but they will gradually solidify around your teeth. Retainers play a vital role in ensuring your teeth stay in their corrected positions.
When combined with proper mewing tongue posture, they prepare you to maintain proper alignment once the retainers are no longer necessary.
Mewing with Retainers: Can They Coexist?
Mewing involves refining your oral posture, encompassing the positioning of your tongue, teeth, and lips to enhance your facial features.
The benefits of mewing extend from addressing oral issues to rectifying facial asymmetry and teeth alignment.
Nevertheless, harmonizing orthodontics and mewing can be challenging, especially if you're new to the concept. It's advisable to thoroughly understand mewing tongue posture before venturing into this practice.
Perfecting your mewing technique takes time, and introducing orthodontic appliances can complicate matters, especially considering that post-braces teeth are vulnerable. Caution is paramount when combining the two.
Combining Mewing and Retainers
It is indeed possible to mew while wearing retainers, provided you do it correctly and remain mindful of your tooth positioning. When you begin your mewing journey, resist the urge to hastily remove your retainers. Adhere to your orthodontist's recommendations and find ways to adapt your mewing routine.
So, the answer to the question, "Can you do mewing with retainers?" is a resounding "Yes." With patience and careful practice, mewing can complement orthodontic treatments, yielding excellent results.
Mastering Mewing with Retainers
As we discussed earlier, retainers are indispensable for preventing teeth from reverting to their previous positions.
However, wearing them only at night and mewing during the day can pose challenges.
Pushing your teeth forward while mewing can counteract the retainer's purpose and potentially lead to long-term issues with bone deposition.
Adjusting Mewing Technique with Retainers
To mew effectively with a retainer, modify your technique:
- Avoid Pushing on Teeth: Keep your tongue off the actual teeth to prevent shifting.
- Focus on Horizontal Tongue Pressure: Ensure your tongue touches only the roof of your mouth.
- Avoid Hard Mewing: Dr. Mew recommends refraining from hard mewing while wearing retainers. Let the retainer do its job while aiding your facial growth.
This adjusted mewing approach not only cooperates with the retainer but also enhances your posture and promotes forward growth.
When you eventually remove your retainer, you'll be equipped with the correct mewing tongue posture.
Learn All About Mewing & Start Your Transformation
What If You Lack Tongue Space with a Retainer?
If you encounter a shortage of tongue space while wearing a retainer, don't despair; a solution exists.
Consider an MSE (Maxillary Skeletal Expander) palate expander to create additional space. After this treatment, you can resume using your retainer as intended. The key is to find the right approach that ensures success for both mewing and your orthodontic treatment.
How to Mew with Different Retainers
Essix Retainer
The Essix retainer, similar to an Invisalign aligner, is ideal for mewing as it doesn't obstruct your tongue. You can mew naturally with this retainer, and it even alerts you if your tongue gets too close to your front teeth.
Hawley Retainer
The Hawley retainer is not suitable for mewing as it occupies tongue space on the upper palate. If you possess a Hawley retainer, consider requesting an Essix retainer or a fixed retainer from your orthodontist or dentist.
Fixed Retainers
Fixed retainers secure only the front 4 or 6 teeth, as advised by your orthodontist. They prevent soft tissue damage but have a slightly higher failure rate since they don't cover all teeth.
Mewing with a fixed retainer is feasible, but it requires precise tongue posture to prevent your palate from shrinking. Be prepared to put in the effort to maintain proper tongue posture.
Conclusion: Mastering Mewing with Retainers
Mastering mewing with retainers is indeed possible with the right approach and dedication. By combining the benefits of both practices, you can enhance your facial features and maintain a confident smile.
The key is to follow proper techniques, be consistent, and consult with dental professionals to ensure you're on the right track.
With patience and commitment, mewing with retainers can lead to remarkable transformations in your facial structure and overall appearance.
