Rubber Bands: Office Supplies or Orthodontic Necessity?

You thought that rubber bands were just for miscellaneous office tasks, but your dentist put quite a few on your braces. Besides adding a bit of color to your otherwise metallic orthodontics, what are they good for?

Believe it or not, those elastics are helping to correct your oral alignment! So before you start pulling them off to aim at your friends, read these facts and tips about your stretchy straighteners.

Brace Bands Type 1: Ligatures

There are actually two types of rubber bands for braces. The most common ones, ligatures, wrap around each individual bracket. In other words, you have at least one on every tooth. Everyone has this type of rubber band, because they’re used to keep the wire in place. However, not everyone chooses the same color! That’s right – ligatures are the bands that can give your orthodontics a sparkle of personality.

Without them, your wire and brackets would have a hard time doing the work of pulling your teeth into alignment. Office supplies? Definitely not. Orthodontic necessity? Absolutely!

Brace Bands Type 2: Elastics

Once they’re wound around your brackets, your ligatures have to stay put. But there is one type of rubber band that you can remove from time to time: elastics. These bands are hooked to specific brackets; one bracket on your upper row of teeth and one bracket on the bottom row. Their purpose is to correct jaw alignment issues, like overbites and underbites, by creating pressure that encourages specific movement.

Not everyone has to get elastics to achieve their smile goals, but those who do aren’t using them to simply hold a couple of pens together! Elastics are 100% an orthodontic necessity.

Rubber Band Tips and Tricks

As you might have guessed, there are right and wrong ways to handle orthodontic rubber bands. Here’s how you can avoid prolonging your treatment:

• If you have elastics, wear them for at least 23 hours per day. You can remove them for your oral hygiene routine and eating, but going too long without them could negate your jaw’s alignment progress.
• That’s also why you shouldn’t remove your elastics when your mouth is sore. Eventually, your teeth and jaw will get used to the positioning – until then, resort to over-the-counter pain relievers instead.
• Make sure you have extra rubber bands readily available, especially if you’re traveling. That way you can simply replace them yourself if they snap.
• On that note, know that you can notify your dentist when you’re low on extra bands. They can definitely give you more!
• Always, always, always fit your rubber bands as instructed by your dentist!
• And never use any other type of rubber band! The ones your dentist gives you are safer and more effective than anything you’ll find in your desk drawer.

It might seem strange, but rest assured that your rubber bands are there to help your braces do what they need to do. Keep them on and replace them as needed, and you’ll be done with your orthodontic treatment before you know it!

About the Practice

Our team at Sunrise Dental Center is ready and able to address your orthodontic needs! With Drs. Song Ahn’s and Thomas Ahn’s expertise, you can be rest assured that your metal braces will be top-notch. If you have questions about your rubber bands or would like to book an appointment, contact our office at 713-869-9973 or visit our website.