Many people who have braces will only deal with brackets, archwires, and ligatures in their mouth. But, for 90 percent of orthodontic cases, another important feature will be added – rubber bands.
The Purpose Of Elastics
Elastics, or rubber bands, are used in the bite-fixing phase of orthodontic treatment (the longest and most difficult part of the whole process). Not every patient requires this step, but if you’re suffering from jaw misalignment (i.e. overbite or underbite), rubber bands/elastics can help.
The Do’s And Don’ts
DO – Get in the habit of carrying extra elastics at all times. If one should break, you will be able to replace it as soon as possible. By consistently wearing elastics, you can shorten the overall time needed to wear braces.
DON’T – Double up on elastics. This will create too much pressure on your teeth and can cause harm to your teeth’s roots.
DO – Wash your hands before removing or replacing rubber bands (your elastics should only be removed when you’re eating or brushing your teeth).
DON’T – Stretch out the elastic – it will loose its strength and become ineffective. TIP: When you need to remove or replace them, put the rubber band around your finger.
DO – Wear your elastics twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week (unless told otherwise).