Retainers Fit & Comfort

Everything you need to know about how your retainer should feel, how to achieve the best fit, and what to do if something doesn't feel quite right.

Popular Questions

If the retainer is still uncomfortably tight after 7–10 days, it may indicate your teeth have shifted or the impression/scan was slightly off.

  • Do not force the retainer if it causes pain or visible stress
  • Contact our support team before wearing further
  • Teeth grinding or clenching
  • Eating or drinking with them in
  • Exposure to heat or hot water
  • Not cleaning them regularly
  • Wrapping them in tissues (easy to lose or damage)

Retainers can feel looser over time as the material relaxes or if teeth have moved. This reduces their effectiveness and should be checked.

  • A loose fit can come from ageing retainers, imperfect impressions, or tooth movement
  • Reach out to us if your retainers no longer hold securely

Chewies are small, firm foam cylinders designed to help seat your appliance properly. By biting down on them for a few minutes, you push the appliance snugly against your teeth, improving fit, comfort, and treatment effectiveness.

You can use chewies every time you insert your appliance. Most people find that 3–5 minutes of use is enough to ensure a perfect fit.

A well-fitting retainer should feel secure but never painfully tight. It should sit flush against your teeth without rocking or gaps.

  • Correct fit means stability and comfort
  • Retainers are designed to feel secure but never painfully tight.
  • A correct fit means they sit flush against your teeth without rocking or excessive movement.
  • Always get in touch with us if you’re unsure, we’re here to check fit issues quickly.