TikTok creator @kalis.genevieve shared a video detailing her experience after getting her braces removed, garnering more than 262,000 views and over 200 comments. In the post, she discussed the realities of wearing retainers after braces and the unexpected changes she encountered once her orthodontic treatment ended.
What orthodontists may not tell you about life after braces
Kalis began by noting that while orthodontists generally explain what patients can expect after braces are removed, there are aspects people may not realize until they experience them firsthand. Her video caption read: “The things they don’t tell you!! It’s all fun and games till you miss a day not wearing your retainers ?? #kalis #trinidad #bracesoff”
Immediate retainer wear and the risk of teeth shifting
One of the first steps after braces removal is receiving retainers. Kalis emphasized that wearing them immediately was critical for her because she was concerned about her teeth shifting. She explained that while patients may eventually transition to nighttime-only wear, she was instructed to wear her retainers every day initially. According to her account, inconsistent use could make the retainers more difficult to put back in if teeth had already moved.
Excess saliva and speech changes with retainers
Kalis highlighted two physical adjustments she was not warned about. First, she experienced a significant increase in saliva production, describing a constant need to swallow while wearing the retainers. Second, wearing retainers on both her top and bottom teeth affected her speech, causing a noticeable lisp. She said it became pronounced enough that she sometimes removed her bottom retainer during conversations to be understood more clearly.
“I do not miss it one day” — life without braces
Despite what she had been told previously, Kalis stated she does not miss having braces. “I do not miss it one day. I am glad it is off. The minute those braces came off, it felt like taking off a tight bra,” she said. She added that she is willing to continue wearing her retainers for as long as necessary to avoid needing braces again.
Viewers share similar experiences in comments
Reactions to the video came largely from users who agreed with her warnings. Many confessed their own teeth shifted after they stopped wearing retainers as prescribed.
One commenter wrote: “Yeah boi…after paying 35,000 by Professional orthodontist my teeth shifted back..because I didn’t wear my retainers as prescribed.”
Another echoed that sentiment: “I missed mine but I stopped wearing my retainers like two months and my teeth shifted now trying to catch up.”
A separate commenter addressed the lisp issue, offering reassurance that it improves over time: “The lisp thing will go after some time. I got my bracers off in 2020 and I speak absolutely normal with my retainers now. But when I just got them… boy! Everyone was laughing at how I was talking.”
The Daily Dot was unable to independently verify the experiences described by @kalis.genevieve and the commenters, which are based on their personal accounts of wearing braces and retainers.
