Braces and clear aligners do an amazing job of straightening teeth and realigning your bite, but sometimes., these orthodontic treatments need a bit of help. If your jaws are out of alignment, we may use rubber bands to help repair your smile.
Ohana Orthodontics uses rubber bands to enhance the movement power of your braces or Invisalign. Not every patient uses rubber bands, but those who do find better jaw alignment means less jaw fatigue and discomfort.
What Are Rubber Bands for Braces?
What are the rubber bands on braces for? Braces and Invisalign can adjust your teeth if they are slightly out of alignment. In other words, your lower jaw is slightly shifted so that your upper teeth don’t rest on top and slightly outside of them on both sides.
Those with more significant shifts may need more than braces or Invisalign to realign their jaws. That’s where rubber bands for braces come in. One type involves tooth movement, but the other types of elastic bands move the jaws.
What Are the Types of Rubber Bands for Braces?
Rubber bands usually stretch from the upper jaw to the lower jaw using tiny posts on the braces brackets or buttons on the Invisalign trays (except Class I elastics). One type stretches across several upper or lower teeth to close gaps. There are three types of rubber bands.
- Class 1 Elastics close gaps between the teeth and connect the upper first or second molar to the upper canine.
- Class 2 Elastics connect the upper jaw and lower jaw and pull the upper teeth back and the lower jaw forward. These are used to repair overbites.
- Class 3 Elastics repair underbites by moving the bottom teeth back and pulling the upper teeth forward.
You may only use one type of elastics during your treatment, or you may use two or three. It depends on how much extra power your braces or Invisalign need to move your teeth. Some practices offer colored rubber bands for braces, allowing you to customize your look!
When Do You Start Wearing Rubber Bands for Braces?
Some patients wear rubber bands throughout most of their treatment. Others may not wear rubber bands at all. We should be able to tell you how long you will need rubber bands after your examination during your first visit.
We will supply you with rubber bands when we’re ready for you to wear them. We will show you how to put the elastics on braces or Invisalign trays. We will also let you know how many weeks or months you must wear your rubber bands.
Remember to wear these elastics all the time, except when you eat or brush your teeth.
Is It Safe to Wear Rubber Bands?
The rubber bands you will receive for braces or clear aligners are unlike standard elastics. These are made to be safe for your body. They are comprised of a nontoxic, medical-grade latex.
Before getting rubber bands, we need to know if you have a latex allergy. We have non-latex versions of dental rubber bands, which you can use instead.
We have had patients ask, “What happens if I swallow one of my braces rubber bands?” Rest assured, because the rubber bands are nontoxic, they shouldn’t harm you and pass through your digestive system normally. Don’t swallow them too often, or they may get stuck on the way out!
Should I Reuse My Rubber Bands for Braces?
For them to be fully effective, you must wear your rubber bands at least 22 hours a day. You can remove them to eat or to brush your teeth.
Once you remove your rubber bands, throw them away! You never want to reuse your rubber bands. Putting them back into your mouth will also put germs, bacteria, and other particles that may have built up on the rubber bands. Yuck!
It’s not sanitary to reuse rubber bands. Throw them out and put in new ones after you eat or brush and floss your teeth.
Tips for Wearing Rubber Bands
Now that you know the basics of braces elastics, here are a few more tips to make your braces treatment successful!
- You may feel discomfort after first getting rubber bands and if you switch types or placement later. This is normal and should go away after a couple of days. You can use over-the-counter painkillers and rinse your mouth with warm saltwater to relieve pain.
- Don’t mix up your rubber bands if you get multiple types. Remember where each type goes.
- Never double your rubber bands in the hopes of speeding up your treatment. You could damage your teeth that way!
- Take a pack of elastics with you when you go out to eat so you can put new ones in immediately after you finish eating and rinsing your mouth.
- Let us know when you need more before you run out. We don’t want any gaps in your treatment time.
- Use only the rubber bands we prescribe to you. We know ours are nontoxic and safe. We cannot guarantee the same for other types of elastics or from other sources.
Rubber Bands Braces Treatment in Canby, OR
Rubber bands are an important treatment option with braces or Invisalign. They help align teeth and jaws properly and close gaps in teeth. You will not only have a straight smile, but you will also have a proper bite that will help prevent jaw pain and excessive tooth wear.
Ohana Orthodontics is here to answer any questions you have about rubber bands or other aspects of braces treatment. If you’re ready for braces in Canby, OR, schedule an appointment with us!
