If you’re considering braces, you may have heard of rubber bands being used in the process. Rubber bands are an important part of the overall braces procedure, but many people don’t understand why or how they work.
In this blog post, we’ll dive into the details of using rubber bands with braces and explain why they are beneficial to a successful orthodontic treatment.
From improving bite alignment to reducing discomfort and more, read on to learn all about the advantages of using rubber bands for braces.
What are Rubber Bands?
Rubber bands are an essential part of getting braces. They help to move your teeth into the correct position and keep them there while your bones and gums adjust to the new alignment.
Without rubber bands, your treatment could take much longer or be less effective. That’s why it’s important to understand how they work and what benefits they offer.
How do Rubber Bands Work with Braces?
To understand how rubber bands work with braces, it is first necessary to understand how braces work.
Braces are designed to correct the alignment of teeth by applying pressure to the teeth and moving them into the desired position.
The orthodontist attaches the brackets on the front of the teeth and then connect them all by wire. This wire applies pressure to the teeth and helps to move them into place.
Your orthodontist use rubber bands in addition to this wire to apply additional pressure to certain teeth to achieve the desired results.
The orthodontist attaches the rubber bands to hooks on the brackets and can adjust them to apply different levels of pressure.
In most cases, the rubber bands are only used on the top and bottom sets of teeth to move them closer together or further apart. However, in some cases, your orthodontist may use rubber bands on the side teeth to rotate them into place.
Based on how much tooth movement your orthodontist requires to correct the alignment of the teeth, he or she chooses rubber bands. Different color rubber bands have different pressure.
Overall, using rubber bands with braces is an effective way to achieve straighter teeth. The rubber bands help to apply extra pressure where it is needed to move the teeth into place. This can often be more effective than using traditional braces alone.
If you are considering getting braces, be sure to ask your orthodontist if using rubber bands would be right for you.
What are the Benefits of Using Rubber Bands with Braces?
If you have ever had braces, then you know that rubber bands are a necessary part of the process. But what are the benefits of using them with braces? Here are seven things to consider:
1. Comfort
When you first get your braces, rubber bands can help provide extra comfort if the brackets are causing any irritation.
Using rubber bands to keep your wires and brackets together can reduce the pressure on your teeth and make them feel more comfortable.
2. Improved Alignment
A major reason for wearing braces is to straighten out your teeth and create lasting alignment.
Rubber bands with braces help you fix overbites, incorrect alignment of the top row of teeth, or other issues that need correcting to create better alignment in the jaw and mouth area.
3. Proper Bite
Rubber bands between braces act as tensioners, which help adjust the bite of each tooth about its neighboring teeth.
This keeps the structure sturdy and prevents shifting during treatment so that you end up with a proper bite when your treatment overs.
4. Gentle Pressure
Rubber bands with braces also offer gentle pressure against your teeth, helping push your teeth into place under constant pressure instead of one sudden shift that could cause discomfort or pain.
The gentle pressure provided by rubber bands relieves intense pain while slowly but surely adjusting your smile over time without traumatizing it in the process.
5. Accountability
The rubber band offers physical proof that you have been following through with wearing them every day throughout the month instead of slacking off at night or avoiding it altogether once you leave your orthodontist appointment!
There’s no denying whether or not you’ve been keeping up with them when they’re secure around each bracket!
6. Discreetness
It may sound counterintuitive, but by adding more components onto your braces (ahem – the rubber band) you are making it less visible overall!
When worn correctly, most people won’t even notice because it will blend into each bracket making them seem like one solid piece against your mouth rather than two separate parts linked together by a thin elastic band!
Did we mention they come in all sorts of fun colors too?
7. Pain Prevention
Eventually, along with correctly aligned teeth comes relief from any prior chronic jaw pains or TMJ aches due to malocclusion while still having traditional metal braces — a bonus!
Depending on what problem areas need to be fixed and what type of field lines are used, this should be seen within months and securely fastened onto each dental device once complete healing has occurred.
How to Use Rubber Bands with Braces?
One of the most common questions we get from patients is whether or not they should be using rubber bands with their braces. Ultimately, it depends on the characteristics of each case.
In some instances, using rubber bands can help speed up the treatment process by correcting certain alignment issues. In other cases, rubber bands may not be necessary.
If your orthodontist has recommended that you use rubber bands with your braces, it’s important to follow their instructions carefully.
Rubber bands come in different sizes and strengths, so it’s important to use the ones that have been specifically prescribed for you. There are also different ways to wear rubber bands, depending on what your orthodontist is trying to correct.
Generally speaking, wearing rubber bands is relatively simple You will typically put them on at night before going to bed and take them off when you wake up in the morning.
After wearing rubber bands some people find them uncomfortable at first, but as you have them routinely this usually goes away after a few days.
If you have any questions about whether or not you should be using rubber bands with your braces, be sure to ask your orthodontist during your next appointment. Based on the details of your case, they can provide you with personalized advice.
Conclusion
I hope that after reading this article, you have a better understanding of why rubber bands are used with braces. Rubber bands provide an extra level of force to help teeth move into their desired positions quicker and more comfortably.
When combined with regular visits to the orthodontist and proper care at home, these elastic bands can work together to give you a perfect smile in no time!
So if your orthodontist has recommended using rubber bands as part of your treatment, make sure you follow all instructions carefully for the best results.
