How long can you go without wearing your retainer?

There is no specified length for how long a person can go without wearing her retainer; the longer she goes, the more likely the teeth are to move. A patient must always wear the retainer at least periodically at night to keep teeth from shifting, according to Commonwealth Orthodontics.

To achieve the greatest benefit to the teeth from a retainer, a patient must follow the wear schedule provided by the orthodontist, states Commonwealth Orthodontics. After a period of time, the patient can wear the retainer less often, but the retainer remains an important part of dental care routine to keep the teeth as straight as possible.