(Concern) How long do I need to wear the retainer after orthodontic treatment?

It has been about 12 years since I had orthodontic treatment.

I have been wearing braces for nearly two and a half years and have been maintaining with retainers ever since. I haven't worn the night-time retainer for a long time, but I still have a wire retainer that connects several teeth on the inside of my teeth. Over time, the wire has come loose or broken, so I have to keep going to the dentist for repairs. Eating hard or chewy foods often causes it to break. However, I can't stop eating my favorite foods just because of the wire... I try to be careful, but it still gets damaged when I let my guard down for a moment.

Do I have to wear retainers for a lifetime after orthodontic treatment? Some dentists say it's okay to remove them after more than 10 years, but the orthodontist I went to told me to wear them as long as possible. ㅜㅜ I didn't realize that post-treatment maintenance would be so troublesome when I first started orthodontics. ㅜㅜ

Are there anyone who have removed their orthodontic retainers after treatment? I'm wondering how much longer I have to keep wearing this uncomfortable device. It also causes a lot of plaque buildup... There are more than a few things that are inconvenient.