How long do you wear a retainer after braces?

Most people wear a retainer most of the day at first, then switch to nights, and keep wearing it in some form long term. That's how the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) describes it. At first, your orthodontist may ask you to wear it most of the day and night, taking it out only to eat, brush and floss. Later, you may move to nights only, depending on your orthodontist's advice and how stable your teeth are. The AAO adds that most people will need a retainer in some form for the long term.

How long each step lasts varies a lot between orthodontists:

In a survey of 658 US orthodontists, most prescribed less than 9 months of full-time wear for removable retainers, then part-time wear for life (Valiathan 2010).
In a survey of AAO members, the first phase lasted 0.8 years on average, at about 17 hours a day. The later phase averaged about 8.6 hours a day, and 82% said it lasts the rest of the patient's life (Pratt 2011).
One NHS hospital clinic uses full-time wear for only the first week, then every night, then 2 to 3 nights a week after the first 12 months, for life (North Cumbria 2025).

These are very different plans, and all of them are in real use. That's why this tool asks for your plan instead of telling you one.

Common plans (examples, not recommendations)

Plan in the tool	Where it comes from
Full time 3 months, then every night	Within the range most US orthodontists reported: under 9 months full time, then part time (Valiathan 2010)
Full time 6 months, then every night	One of the two plans tested in a randomized trial of Hawley retainers (Shawesh 2010)
Full time 12 months, then every night	Close to the 0.8-year average first phase in a survey of AAO members (Pratt 2011)
Full time 1 week, nights to the end of year 1, then 2–3 nights a week	An NHS orthodontic leaflet (North Cumbria 2025)
Nights only from the start	The other plan in the Hawley trial (Shawesh 2010)

Some clinics step down further over the years. One NHS leaflet on long-term wear suggests 3 nights a week for a year, then 2 nights a week for a year, then 1 night a week for as long as you want your teeth to stay straight (Plymouth 2024). Pick My own plan to enter a plan like this, phase by phase.

Full time or nights only: what does the research say?

The research is thin, so your orthodontist's plan comes first. A randomized trial of 67 people with Hawley retainers compared nights only for a year with 6 months full time and then 6 months of nights. A year after braces came off, the trial found no statistically significant difference in how straight the teeth stayed (Shawesh 2010).

A 2023 Cochrane review of retention studies rated the evidence low to very low certainty. Its authors said they couldn't draw firm conclusions about any one approach to retention over another. Most comparisons came from single studies, and most followed people for less than a year (Cochrane 2023).

Types of retainers

Clear removable: a thin, see-through tray that fits over your teeth (AAO).
Hawley: a plastic or acrylic base with a wire across the front teeth (AAO).
Bonded (fixed): a thin wire glued behind some teeth, usually the front ones (AAO). It stays in all the time.

Many people get a removable retainer for the upper teeth and a bonded one for the lower teeth, the most common pattern in two US surveys (Valiathan 2010; Pratt 2011). Some have both types on the same teeth (Jin 2018). Choose Bonded + removable if you have both.

How long retainers last differs by type. A study of 591 retainers at one university clinic found that half of the clear plastic retainers needed repair or replacement within 105 days. For Hawley retainers that took about 1,529 days, and for bonded retainers about 1,604 days (Jin 2018). Clear retainers most often cracked, Hawley retainers were most often lost, and bonded wires most often came loose. Only 34 clear retainers were in that study, so treat their number as a rough guide.

Cleaning and caring for your retainer

For removable retainers, NHS orthodontic clinics give this advice:

Take it out to eat, drink and brush your teeth (North Cumbria 2025).
Clean it every day with a toothbrush and cold water, over a bowl or sink of water in case you drop it (North Cumbria 2025; Leeds).
Never use hot water. It can change the shape so the retainer no longer fits (North Cumbria 2025). Skip bleach and detergent too, which can discolor it (Leeds).
Keep it in its case whenever it's out of your mouth (Leeds).
Wear a mouthguard instead for contact sports (North Cumbria 2025).

For bonded retainers, keep the teeth and gums around the wire clean, have your dentist check it at regular visits, and get help if it comes loose, even partly (Manchester 2018).

When to replace a retainer

There's no set replacement date. The AAO says to replace a retainer if it's damaged, lost or no longer fits properly. If it's painful or won't fit completely, don't force it. Contact your orthodontist (AAO).

Don't wait for a lost or broken retainer to sort itself out. One NHS clinic warns that if teeth move because a retainer is lost or broken, the treatment usually can't be redone (Manchester 2018). The check reminder in this tool puts a repeating note in your calendar to look for cracks, warping and fit.

How this tool works

Phases start on the day your braces or aligners came off. If you're still in aligners, the Aligner Tray Calculator estimates that day. Each phase begins the day after the one before it ends. Months are calendar months (Jan 31 plus 1 month is Feb 28 or 29). Weeks are 7 days.
Today's instruction comes from the phase that includes today. A phase with no length goes on long term.
Presets turn the common examples above into phases. Pick My own plan to enter any plan, up to six phases.
Calendar file: one reminder for each upcoming phase change, at the time you choose, plus a "check your retainer" reminder that repeats at your chosen interval (12 times).
Bonded retainers have no phases. The tool shows care steps instead.

Limits: the tool can't see your teeth, and the presets are examples only. If your orthodontist changes your plan, update it here.

Your data stays on this device

Your plan stays in your browser and nothing is sent to a server. It's saved only when you press Save plan to My Smile. Copy link shares the plan settings, never your name.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to wear my retainer full time?

It depends on your orthodontist, and practice varies a lot. In a survey of US orthodontists, most prescribed less than 9 months of full-time wear for removable retainers. One NHS clinic uses full time for just the first week. Follow the plan you were given.

Do I have to wear a retainer forever?

Often, yes, at least some nights. The AAO says most people will need to wear a retainer in some form long term. In a survey of AAO members, 82% said the later, part-time phase lasts the rest of the patient's life.

Is wearing my retainer only at night enough?

Many plans move to nights only after an early, mostly full-time phase (AAO). A trial of Hawley retainers found no clear difference after a year between nights only and 6 months of full-time wear. But a 2023 Cochrane review rated the evidence low to very low certainty, so your orthodontist's plan comes first.

How do I clean a clear retainer?

Brush it every day with a toothbrush and cold water, and keep it in its case when it's out. Never use hot water, which can warp it. Clinics disagree about toothpaste: one says it scratches, another allows a small amount. Ask your orthodontist.

How often should I replace my retainer?

There's no set schedule. The AAO says to replace a retainer when it's damaged, lost or no longer fits. In one clinic study, clear plastic retainers needed repair or replacement after a median of 105 days, against about 4 years for Hawley and bonded retainers.

My retainer feels tight. What should I do?

Don't force it. The AAO says to contact your orthodontist if a retainer is painful or won't fit completely.

Sources

American Association of Orthodontists. What to Expect After Your Braces Come Off. 2026. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Valiathan M, Hughes E. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics 137(2):170–177. Results of a survey-based study to identify common retention practices in the United States. 2010. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Pratt MC, Kluemper GT, Hartsfield JK, Fardo D, Nash DA. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics 140(4):520–526. Evaluation of retention protocols among members of the American Association of Orthodontists in the United States. 2011. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Shawesh M, Bhatti B, Usmani T, Mandall N. European Journal of Orthodontics 32(2):165–170. Hawley retainers full- or part-time? A randomized clinical trial. 2010. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Martin C, Littlewood SJ, Millett DT, et al. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CD002283 (record at the University of Dundee). Retention procedures for stabilising tooth position after treatment with orthodontic braces. 2023. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Jin C, Bennani F, Gray A, Farella M, Mei L. European Journal of Orthodontics 40(5):531–536. Survival analysis of orthodontic retainers. 2018. Accessed October 26, 2026.
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust. Orthodontics: Looking after your removable retainers. 2025. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Essix Orthodontic Retainers. reviewed 2025. Accessed October 26, 2026.
University Dental Hospital of Manchester (Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust). Instructions for Retainers (patient leaflet, PDF). 2018. Accessed October 26, 2026.
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. Orthodontic retention advice long term. 2024. Accessed October 26, 2026.

Last reviewed October 26, 2026 by the Dental Health Time editorial team, against the sources above. How we review.