Elastics
Elastics are essentially rubber bands that are attached to brackets, usually between upper and lower or front and back teeth, applying tension and causing teeth to move. Elastics can be used in many ways depending upon the treatment goals.
Elastics move the teeth in a direction, which cannot be accomplished with braces alone. Your teeth and jaws may be tender the first few days of wearing the elastics. This is normal and should begin to disappear within a week. If it persists longer, please call our office. Rinsing with warm salt water will help take away the tenderness.
It may seem hard for you to put on the elastics at first, however it will become easier with practice. You may remove the elastics only when eating your meals or brushing your teeth. Be sure to replace the elastics with new ones immediately following mealtime and brushing. Part-time wear does NOT move teeth, but it does cause them to constantly be sore.
Change the elastics routinely even if they are not broken. After a while, elastics lose their strength. Change them at least after each meal and before bedtime. If one elastic breaks, replace both sides.
Carry extra elastics with you at all times. If you don’t have enough to last until your next appointment please stop by our office and pick more up or call us and we can send more to you. We don’t want you to run out.
Before you leave the office, be absolutely sure you understand exactly where to hook the elastics. Hooking them on incorrectly can be even worse then not wearing them at all, as your teeth might move the opposite way of how they need to. If you ever have any questions on how to wear your elastics, please do not hesitate to ask.
