Exercising after retainer: the short version
You can exercise immediately after getting a retainer. Wearing one does not limit physical activity. For contact sports, though, a retainer is not protective equipment. Take a removable retainer out and wear a proper sports mouthguard instead. A retainer is thin, can crack on impact, and offers no cushioning for the teeth it is holding in their new positions.
What is actually going on
Removable retainers, clear or wire-and-acrylic, are designed to hold teeth still, not to absorb blows. In a collision a clear retainer can split into sharp pieces, and the wire of a Hawley can cut the lip. For running, gym work, and other non-contact exercise you can keep a retainer in, though heavy mouth breathing may dry your mouth and clenching on it during lifts can be uncomfortable. Swimming deserves a mention: retainers are often lost in pools and open water. If you have just finished braces, your teeth are at their most likely to shift, so time out of the retainer for sport should be made up afterward. A fixed retainer bonded behind the front teeth stays in for everything; a hit to the front teeth can break the bond, which you may notice as a loose wire end.
The first time, step by step
A retainer places no limit on exercise, and for running or gym work it normally stays in. The first session with it is unremarkable apart from a drier mouth, since the plastic covers the teeth and hard breathing does the rest. Sip plain water only. Anything else you drink with a retainer in is held against the enamel. For contact sport the routine is different: retainer into its case, mouthguard on, then teeth cleaned and retainer back in when you finish. Write the case into your kit list. Ask your orthodontist how to make up wear time lost to long training days.
Exercise After Retainer: What You Need to Know
Wait time
After a retainer, you can typically resume exercising immediately.
Why
No restrictions
Tips for Exercising After Retainer
- 01For contact sports, store the retainer in its case and use a sports mouthguard; put the retainer back in after cleaning your teeth.
- 02Take the retainer out before swimming and leave it in its case in your bag, not wrapped in a towel.
- 03Ask your orthodontist whether a mouthguard can be made to fit comfortably over a bonded retainer.
- 04If a bonded retainer wire feels loose after a knock, have it checked promptly, since teeth can move where the bond has failed.
Common mistakes
- 01Sipping a sports drink with a clear retainer in during a workout. The drink seeps under the plastic and stays there, bathing the teeth in sugar and acid long after the bottle is empty.
- 02Leaving the retainer in a kit bag on a sunny touchline or in a hot car during the game. Clear retainers soften and distort with heat, and a warped one no longer holds the teeth.
- 03Finishing practice and not putting the retainer back in until bedtime. A few hours lost after every session adds up through a season, which is when newly straightened teeth begin to drift.
Other Activities After Retainer
See when you can do other activities after your retainer:
Table 1 — Other activities after retainer
| Activity | Wait |
|---|---|
| Use a Straw | Immediately |
| Eat Normally | Immediately |
| Smoke | No restriction |
| Drink Alcohol | No restriction |
| Drive | Immediately |
| Return to Work | Immediately |
Recovery info
Recovery timelines are general guidelines based on typical cases. Individual recovery may vary based on your health, the complexity of your procedure, and other factors. Your own dentist's or surgeon's post-operative instructions always take priority over anything on this page. Call them if you are unsure.