How To Fix Your Overbite Faster With Rubber Bands

How to Put Rubber Bands On Braces

By Dr. Tyler Coles – Premier Orthodontics

If you've ever had braces, or if you have braces right now, then at that place's a chance that your orthodontist has asked you to wear safe bands. Safety bands with braces may seem difficult at first, just with a few tips and tricks from this article, yous'll know how to put rubber bands on braces, past yourself, in no fourth dimension.

What Are Rubber Bands For Braces?

Orthodontic rubber bands, also known every bit elastics, are small rubberband bands that hook onto your braces from the top teeth down to the bottom teeth.

Do notation that orthodontic rubber bands are unlike from the small colored ties (too known equally o-ties or ligatures) put on braces to hold the archwire in place.

Orthodontic rubber bands look like to rubber bands that you might see at a local function supply store—but they are designed specifically for delivery of the proper force levels to your teeth. In other words, your average condom band should not exist used for braces.

Orthodontic rubber bands are usually made of latex, just they besides come in latex-free varieties for those with sensitivities.

Why Are Safe Bands For Braces Needed?

Your braces past themselves practice a great chore of straightening your teeth and closing spaces. But there are sure seize with teeth problems that tin can't be fixed with braces lonely. This is where orthodontic condom bands come up in.

Fixing Overbites With Prophylactic Bands

One type of seize with teeth trouble that requires rubber bands is an overbite (the top teeth stick out too far).

For someone who has an overbite, they would wear prophylactic bands that hook to the bottom teeth almost the back of the oral fissure and stretch the rubberband towards the front teeth on the top curvation. (See the images below for a visual of what these look like)

Applying the rubber bands in this design helps to pull the top teeth back and the lesser teeth forward, improving your bite.

Watch the video beneath to encounter how orthodontic rubber bands can ready an overbite.

Fixing Underbites With Rubber Bands

Some other type of seize with teeth problem that requires condom bands is an underbite (the bottom teeth stick out too far).

For someone who has an underbite, they would wear rubber bands that hook to the tiptop teeth near the back of the mouth and stretch the elastic towards the front teeth on the bottom arch. (See the images below for a visual of what these look like)

Applying the rubber bands in this design helps to pull the superlative teeth forward and the bottom teeth dorsum.

Scout the video below to encounter how orthodontic rubber bands can fix an underbite.

Fixing Open Bites With Rubber Bands

Another type of bite problem that requires rubber bands is an open up bite (the top teeth don't touch the bottom teeth) Open up bites tin happen on the forepart side or back of their oral fissure.

For someone who has an open bite, they would wear condom bands that claw to the top teeth and stretch the elastics towards the bottom teeth, normally direct beneath. Unremarkably the rubber band is pulled downwards in a triangle pattern. (Encounter the images below for a visual of what these expect like)

Applying the rubber bands in this pattern helps to pull the elevation teeth forrad and the bottom teeth dorsum.

Spotter the video below to run across how triangle elastics can assistance ready an open seize with teeth.

Do I Really Need to Wear Rubber Bands On My Braces?

You lot tin think of it this way. If yous've already put the time and resources into getting braces, how much more of a hassle will it really be to temporarily add on rubber bands? In the long run, anyone with a bite problem is truly grateful that they chose to put rubber bands on their braces.

As you can see from the examples above, orthodontic rubber bands tin can be worn in dissimilar patterns and directions to fix different types of bite problems. Information technology's important to follow the specific instructions from your orthodontist regarding how to wear your rubber bands on your braces.

Brand sure to ask your orthodontist to repeat rubber band directions if yous're non getting the hang of it correct away. With fourth dimension, putting rubber bands on your braces will exist second nature.

How Often Do I Demand to Habiliment and Modify My Orthodontic Rubber Bands?

For nigh patients, wearing your safety bands all twenty-four hour period and all nighttime is required. The two main exceptions are when you eat or when yous brush your teeth.

Everytime you take your condom bands out, make sure to replace them with a fresh gear up. If y'all keep using the aforementioned safety bands for too long, y'all'll notice them start to lose their strength or they tin can break. You tin can usually expect to article of clothing 4-5 sets of rubber bands each mean solar day.

Recall information technology's okay to skip rubber bands for a twenty-four hour period – or fifty-fifty just an afternoon? Then mind to this!

When you lot put forcefulness on a tooth it starts to movement a little bit. When you have the forcefulness off the tooth it will brainstorm moving dorsum. Then, if you wearable your safe bands for just an hour and so leave them off for 3 hours, your teeth probably didn't make whatsoever progress !

In order to go your teeth to motion permanently, you must apply constant force over a long fourth dimension. The longer the improve! That is why wearing your rubber bands day and night (even to bed) is very important.

In some instances, we may recommend patients wear their rubber bands merely at nighttime fourth dimension. This usually means that we like the position your teeth are in and want to make certain they stay correct there..

In whatever instance, always follow the instructions of your orthodontist regarding how often to vesture your orthodontic rubber bands; if yous've been told to wear them total-time, it's vitally of import that you do then.

How to Put Rubber Bands on Braces: Tips to Endeavour

At first, rubber bands may feel bad-mannered to put on your braces, but with do yous'll be a pro!

Picket our video below for tips and tricks on how to put on safe bands.

Using your fingers to guide the bands into place tends to be the easiest method. To do this, stand in front end of the mirror so you lot can run across your teeth – and then hold the rubber band securely between your thumb and pointer finger. Claw the condom band on the hook of the braces on the superlative teeth and pull the rubber band to the claw on the bottom teeth.

For those with long nails or that accept problem pinching their prophylactic bands with their fingers, you can too use a plastic claw that can assistance with placing prophylactic bands.

About of the fourth dimension your orthodontist has these hooks on manus and will gladly requite them to you. If needed though, you tin can also find them on Amazon here.

With these plastic hooks, you simply place the rubber ring on the hook and guide the condom band around the hook of your bracket. Finally, pull the safety band, using the plastic hook, onto the hook of the bracket on the opposite arch.

A few more tips for placing safe bands on braces are:

Bite down and keep your teeth together while placing your rubber bands. This will make it easier to get the band stretched.
Your rubber bands will come in a purse, merely nosotros recommend getting a 2d bag as well. Go along 1 at home and ane at school or in your backpack. That mode y'all always have one on mitt after lunchtime.
If you lot run out of prophylactic bands or need more, call your orthodontist. Don't try to utilize traditional office supply safe bands – even as a temporary replacement. Orthodontists tin always suit to have you stop by and pick upwardly a spare bag.

Remember, whatsoever, you do, never become too long without wearing your rubber bands!

The more yous clothing your rubber bands on your braces and follow the instructions of your orthodontist, the faster your bite will go corrected, and the sooner your braces volition come off!

It's one of the biggest means that y'all, as the patient, can touch the quality of your treatment effect and the total amount of fourth dimension that you'll spend in braces.