Do’s & Don’ts of Wearing Orthodontic Elastics

Braces work by applying gentle pressure to the teeth in order to help them move into their correct position. The end result is a straight, beautiful smile! However, in some cases, the wires and brackets aren’t enough and you may need to use elastics (tiny rubber bands that attach to the brackets of your braces) to apply additional pressure to get your teeth in the correct position.

What are elastics and how do they work?

These tiny rubber bands will attach to an upper bracket with tiny loops and stretch to a corresponding bottom bracket. You will need to wear your elastics every day in order to provide the correct amount of pressure to guide your teeth to where they need to be.

You will be allowed to take the elastics out in order to eat. If you leave them in, you won’t be able to open your mouth wide enough to take bites and the food will become stuck in the elastics. Dr. Rhoda Lockett will teach you how to correctly use your elastics. You’ll get used to them in no time!

Below are a few tips to help you out while you’re using the elastics:

• To avoid the transfer of germs, make sure to wash your hands before putting the elastics in and before taking them out.
• You may want to carry around a few extra elastics with you in your purse, pocket, or backpack, in order to replace them if they break. The more you wear the elastics, the shorter you may need to have your braces on.
• Only apply one elastic to the brackets. If you double up on them, you may damage the roots of your teeth.

If you have any questions about your elastics, or if you’ve run out of them, please contact Lockett Orthodontics, located in Colorado Springs, CO!