Braces are a tried-and-true orthodontic treatment that has assisted countless generations of patients over the years. They can be used to treat a variety of conditions that impact your teeth and jaw, and when most people picture the treatment, they visualize the straighter, more beautiful smile that can be accomplished by the end. That said, some patients end up needing to wear tiny rubber bands with their braces, which may seem a little odd. Nonetheless, these elastics serve an incredibly important purpose! Here’s what you need to know.

What Do Rubber Bands Do for Braces?

Rubber bands, sometimes referred to simply as elastics, are used to increase the force that’s applied to a specific area of your mouth during your braces treatment. They connect to the brackets on your braces using small metal hooks, and they can be positioned in several different combinations. Sometimes patients only need to wear one on one side, while others may need to wear multiple on both sides.

There are several things that rubber bands do for braces, but primarily, they’re used to assist with jaw misalignment and bite problems like overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites. They can also be used to help adjust the spacing between teeth or their positioning; for example, if a tooth is learning far backward, elastics can help straighten it out.

Over time, the rubber bands will lose their elasticity, meaning that they will exert less and less force on your teeth. Because of this, they need to be changed often, at least daily – but your orthodontist will let you know the specifics. Some people may only need to use rubber bands for a few weeks, while others end up using them for months.

Tips for Caring for Your Teeth While Wearing Braces with Elastics

Your elastics are just as important as any other component of your braces, and you should care for them properly all throughout your treatment. Here are some tips to help:

• Always attach your rubber bands to your braces as instructed by your provider; be sure to never double up, as the added pressure may harm your teeth.
• Be sure to keep extra rubber bands on hand; they need to be changed often, not to mention, they tend to break more often than you’d think.
• Since food can become trapped in your braces and elastics, be sure that you’re brushing your teeth and flossing after every meal.
• Avoid certain foods that are sticky, hard, or particularly crunchy since they can damage your braces or snap your rubber bands.

As soon as a rubber band comes off or breaks, replace it with a new one – doing this as soon as possible keeps your treatment right on track. Remember, though they may feel like a tedious extra step, these elastics play a crucial part in delivering your straight new smile in a timely manner. That’s reason alone to wear them diligently!

About the Practice

Our team here at Simply Orthodontics has proudly served patients and families in Derry, Hudson, and the surrounding areas for several years, offering a wide range of orthodontic services for patients of all ages including traditional braces. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with us to set up an appointment, please reach out online or call today for more information or assistance.

Derry Office Telephone: (603) 437-0331.

Hudson Office Telephone: (603) 889-1100.