Oh yeah, that's another thing.... the dreaded retainer!!
Back "in the day", it was no suprise to see some poor guy/girl digging in the lunchroom trash because they accidentally threw away their retainer that was wrapped in a napkin while they ate. The retainers we had back then were gross! I hear they've changed now so I can't wait to see the one my daughter gets in a few weeks. I still actually have my bottom permanent retainer (yes, I'm 35!). It's just a wire glued onto two of the teeth (behind them). My dentist tells me that we might as well leave it in as long as it wants to be there. I'm so used to it that I think I would actually have more issues with it out than right where it is. It's a bit of a pain when I go for teeth cleanings because the hygenist has to scrape around those contacts but since I go every 6 months religously, it's manageable. Can't wait to see the new type of top retainer though!