Orthodontics

Intro To Rubber Bands

Feb 28 • 3 minute read

All great leading characters have a sidekick that provides an extra boost just when they need it. Batman has Robin, Spongebob has Patrick, and Dora has Boots (the monkey). If braces are the leading character in your oral treatment plan, then consider rubber bands their powerful sidekick.

How Do They Work?

Orthodontic rubber bands, also called elastics or interarch rubber bands, help to pull your jaw forward or backward to achieve proper alignment.

Patients typically wear a rubber band on each side of their mouth. The elastics are hooked onto brackets, attached to the top canines, and then stretched to hook onto a bottom molar bracket. Like a trusty sidekick, rubber bands boost the power of braces, helping to keep the archwire in place.

Unlike the small bands wrapped around each bracket (i.e., ligatures), which can only be changed by your orthodontist, elastics need to be replaced multiple times a day even if they’re not broken. This step is critical, as rubber bands quickly lose their strength and elasticity. Additionally, it’s essential to wear your elastics twenty-four hours a day, including when you eat and sleep, unless otherwise instructed.

While it might not seem like a big deal to take your elastics out for a short time, even a few hours can undo your progress! When force is applied to a tooth, it starts to move a little bit, but as soon as you remove the force, it begins moving back. To realign your teeth permanently, you must apply constant force over a long time. That’s why it’s crucial to wear your rubber bands consistently, only taking them out to brush, floss, put new ones in, and occasionally eat (although eating with your elastics in actually makes them work harder and faster).

Tips for Wearing Rubber Bands

It usually takes a couple of days to get used to putting your elastics in, and while at first you might need to use a mirror, after a few times you’ll be able to hook them up with your eyes closed.

A few tips to get you started with orthodontic rubber bands:

  1. Use your fingers to guide the bands into place. Start by standing in front of the mirror so you can see your teeth, then hold the rubber band securely between your thumb and pointer finger. Hook the rubber band on the hook of the braces on the top teeth and pull the rubber band to the hook on the bottom teeth.
    Pro Tip: If you have long nails or difficulty pinching the rubber bands with your fingers, try using a plastic rubber band placer hook. Your orthodontist likely has these on-hand, which can help hook the elastic onto your brackets.
  2. Before you leave our office, be absolutely sure you understand where to attach the elastics. Incorrectly placing your rubber bands can result in your teeth moving in the wrong direction.
  3. Your rubber bands come in a small bag, but we recommend getting a second bag to ensure you always have them nearby. Keep one at home and one with you at school or the office, so you’re able to replace them frequently throughout the day.
  4. Make sure you replace your rubber bands multiple times a day, and always replace both sides at the same time. Replacing both ensures that the same level of tension is being applied on both sides.

In the beginning, some initial soreness should be expected, but the good news is that means your elastics are working!

Wearing your rubber bands as prescribed is one of the most significant ways that you can affect the outcome of your orthodontic treatment. Remember, the more you wear your rubber bands on your braces and follow the instructions of your orthodontist, the faster your bite will get corrected and the sooner you’ll be out of those braces.

If you ever have any questions about how to wear your elastics or you run out of your supply, contact our office and we’ll be happy to help!

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