I am British, so I dont know what it is?
Whenever you watch an American sitcom and someone talks about having a retainer in their school days as a kid I wonder what it is.

Can anyone enlighten me??:confused:

they don't have them in britain?

i would answer, but i dont think i can give a good definition..

it's a thing made to put around ur teeth and your gums. it's so your teeth will get used to the feel after you get braces off. (well, i think so:o)

oh, i think they are called Braces over here

Ah crap! Speaking of which, I haven't been wearing mine, I forgot all about it!

Originally posted by peter may
oh, i think they are called Braces over here

a retainer is what you wear after you get your braces off so your teeth wont go back to the way they were before braces.

Originally posted by peter may
oh, i think they are called Braces over here

Yeah, you're right. They're called braces here.
I think a retainer is one of those things that has like a plastic plate with metal on it that you sorta clip onto the roof of your mouth. The metal bit goes over your teeth and you have to take it out at night.
I used to have one of them. Retainers are what you get given when you need braces but the dentist doesn't wanna give you train-tracks.

Good definition Mossopp! I never knew what a retainer looked like until I got one and now I have to wear it all the time. Hopefully next time I go to the orthodontist he'll tell me I'll only have to wear it at night.

Originally posted by Mossopp
Retainers are what you get given when you need braces but the dentist doesn't wanna give you train-tracks.

Well, kinda. Some people only need retainers. Most people have braces then wear a retainer afterwards. And usually for the first 6 months, you leave them in at night.

Originally posted by Miss Karly


Well, kinda. Some people only need retainers. Most people have braces then wear a retainer afterwards. And usually for the first 6 months, you leave them in at night.

My mate Emma used to take hers out and chase me with it.
That was gross! :barf:

Originally posted by Mossopp


My mate Emma used to take hers out and chase me with it.
That was gross! :barf:

:lol: When I actually decide to eat in the same room as my family, I flip mine around in my mouth at dinner. Drives my parents out of their mind.

Originally posted by Miss Karly


:lol: When I actually decide to eat in the same room as my family, I flip mine around in my mouth at dinner. Drives my parents out of their mind.

I had one when I was about 13 years old. It was loose and I kept clicking it in and out of position with my tongue. I'd sit and chew on it when I was bored aswell. I had to keep going back and forth to the dentist cos I kept breaking it!! :lol:

I only have to wear my retainer at night. I haven't seen the orthodontist for a long time.

retainers suck big