What to Do If You Lose or Break Your Retainer

Wearing a retainer after orthodontic treatment is just as important as wearing braces or aligners themselves. It’s the key to maintaining your new, beautifully aligned smile. But what happens if your retainer goes missing—or worse, breaks?

Whether it accidentally ended up in the trash with your lunch napkin or got crushed under your pillow, a lost or damaged retainer is more than just an inconvenience. It could lead to your teeth shifting back into their old positions, potentially undoing months or years of hard work.

If you’ve found yourself in this situation, don’t panic. In this post, we’ll walk you through what to do if you lose or break your retainer, why acting quickly matters, and how to avoid this problem in the future.

Why Retainers Matter So Much

After your braces or clear aligners come off, your teeth aren’t set in stone. In fact, they’re still relatively mobile in the months and even years after treatment. That’s because the bone and tissue around your teeth need time to stabilize in their new positions.

Retainers help guide this process and prevent orthodontic relapse—when teeth gradually shift back toward their original locations. Without a retainer, all that progress can start to reverse, sometimes in just a matter of days or weeks.

This is why replacing a lost or broken retainer promptly is so important.

Step 1: Stay Calm—but Act Quickly

First things first: don’t panic. A broken or missing retainer is a common issue and your orthodontist has seen it before. However, it’s not something you want to put off. The longer you go without your retainer, the more likely your teeth are to shift.

If your retainer is:

• Lost: Try retracing your steps. Check all the usual places—your backpack, your car, under your bed, or any napkins and wrappers you might’ve thrown away.

• Broken: Don’t try to fix it yourself. DIY repairs can damage the retainer further or make it unsafe to wear. Keep all the pieces and show them to your orthodontist.

Call your orthodontic office as soon as you realize the retainer is lost or damaged. The sooner they know, the faster they can take impressions or scans to create a replacement.

Step 2: Assess How Long You’ve Been Without It

The amount of time you’ve gone without your retainer plays a big role in what your orthodontist will recommend next.

• A few hours to a day: You’re probably still in good shape. Teeth don’t shift significantly this quickly. Still, don’t wait to replace it.

• A few days to a week: You may start to notice some tightness or slight movement, especially in the front teeth.

• More than a week: There’s a real risk your teeth have begun to shift. Your new retainer may need adjustments—or you might require short-term retreatment.

Be honest with your orthodontist about how long it’s been. The goal is to keep your smile intact, not to judge you.

Step 3: Schedule a Retainer Replacement

Getting a new retainer is typically a simple process:

1. Appointment and evaluation: Your orthodontist will examine your teeth to see if any shifting has occurred.

2. Impressions or scans: A mold or digital scan of your teeth is taken to ensure your new retainer fits perfectly.

3. Fabrication: Depending on the type of retainer (Hawley, clear plastic, or fixed), it may be ready in a few days.

4. Fitting: You’ll return to pick up your retainer and ensure it fits correctly.

If your teeth have shifted too much, your orthodontist might recommend aligners to move them back before fitting a new retainer.

Step 4: Protect Your New Retainer

Once you have your replacement retainer, it’s time to take steps to keep this one safe. Here’s how to avoid a repeat:

• Use your case: Always store your retainer in its case when it’s not in your mouth. Never wrap it in a napkin or leave it on a tray.

• Keep it away from pets: Dogs, in particular, love chewing on retainers. Keep it out of reach.

• Clean it properly: Use cool water and a soft toothbrush. Avoid hot water or harsh chemicals that can warp or damage the plastic.

• Avoid heat: Don’t leave your retainer in a hot car or near any heat source.

• Have a backup: If you’ve had multiple retainers made, keep one in a safe spot just in case.

What If You Lose Your Retainer Repeatedly?

If lost retainers are becoming a pattern, talk to your orthodontist about longer-term options. A permanent (or fixed) retainer, bonded behind the front teeth, might be a good alternative. These retainers stay in place 24/7 and don’t require daily removal.

Just keep in mind that fixed retainers still require careful cleaning and maintenance, and they aren’t suitable for every case.

The Cost of Not Replacing Your Retainer

Delaying a replacement might seem harmless—but even minor tooth movement can lead to expensive problems down the line. If your teeth shift too much, you may need new aligners or even braces to realign them. Not to mention the cosmetic frustration of losing your straight smile.

Replacing a retainer is usually a quick and affordable fix compared to restarting orthodontic treatment.

Don’t Let a Lost Retainer Undo Your Progress

Losing or breaking a retainer is inconvenient, but it’s manageable—if you act quickly. Contact your orthodontist as soon as you notice it’s missing or damaged, and follow through with a replacement plan. With quick action, you can protect your investment and keep your smile straight and healthy for life.

If you’re unsure what to do next, or if you think your teeth have already started shifting, the team at Silver Lake Orthodontics is here to help. As your trusted Everett orthodontist, we specialize in retainer replacements, relapse corrections, and ongoing smile maintenance. Don’t wait—call us today to schedule your appointment and keep your smile on track!