How long should you wear a retainer after braces?

After braces, a patient needs to wear retainers all the time for the first 6 months and then every night during sleep for an unknown number of years, as stated by WebMD. Ideally, a person needs to wear the retainers until their bite becomes stable.

Retainers are dental devices that are used to hold the teeth in position after the removal of braces during an orthodontic treatment. They help to prevent the teeth from returning to their original position. Fixed retainers may be used for at least 5 years after the first 6 months, as stated by National Dental Center Singapore. Removable retainers should be taken out during sports, eating and while brushing teeth.