Braces Rubber Bands: What They Do and How to Wear Them

When people talk about the rubber bands on braces, they mean either of two things, and mixing them up causes a lot of confusion. One is a small ring around each bracket. The other is a larger elastic that you hook on and off yourself.

The first is part of the brace. The second is part of the treatment plan, and it only does its job if you use it as instructed. Not every patient is given elastics, and those who are may need them only for part of treatment, often after the teeth have been levelled and the wires are thicker.

Each bracket usually has a tiny elastic ring, called a tie, stretched around it to hold the archwire in its slot. They come in many colours, which many children and teenagers enjoy choosing. They are replaced by the orthodontist at every adjustment visit, so you never need to put them on yourself.

Ties can pick up stain from tea, coffee and turmeric, and they can collect plaque. If one comes off between visits, it is usually a minor matter that can wait for the next appointment, unless the wire is loose or poking. Some brackets have a clip in place of ties, as described in self-ligating braces.

Brackets and wires straighten the teeth within each arch, but they do not by themselves change how the upper and lower jaws meet. Elastics do that. Hooks on the brackets or on small attachments let you stretch an elastic from an upper tooth to a lower one, and its steady pull moves the teeth and shifts the bite.

The direction depends on the problem. Elastics from the upper front to the lower back help to pull back an overbite, as covered in do braces fix an overbite. Elastics running the other way help with an underbite. Others are used to close an open bite or line up the centre of the teeth. Your orthodontist will show you which teeth to hook them on, and the hooking pattern is specific to you, so do not copy a friend's. They also come in different sizes and strengths, which is why the packet your orthodontist gives you is the one to use.

Wear them as prescribed, which is usually most of the day and night, taking them out only to eat and brush. Elastics lose their stretch and pick up bacteria, so orthodontists commonly ask for fresh ones at least once a day, and sometimes more often. Follow your own instructions for the size and number.

Carry spare packets in your bag and your pocket, since you will lose or break them at the worst moments. Open wide carefully, because a wide yawn can snap an elastic or pull a hook off. Elastics are available without latex if you are allergic, so mention it. Soreness in the teeth or jaw for the first days with a new pair is normal, and it eases as the teeth adjust. Eating a little more softly for those days is enough for most people. Soft food helps, as described in do braces hurt.

If an elastic snaps, replace it with a fresh one straight away. Hook it on with clean hands, one side first, using a mirror, and ask your orthodontist to check at the next visit that you are using the right pair of hooks. If you have run out, call the clinic for more rather than going without. If one hook or attachment has come off, tell the clinic at once, because the elastic has nothing to hold onto.

Missing a few hours occasionally does little harm. Missing days is different. When elastics are skipped, the teeth settle back a little each time and the bite correction slows. A pattern of poor wear is one of the commonest reasons a case on track starts to overrun, as explained in how long braces take. If elastics are not worn, the orthodontist may extend treatment, add visits, or finish with a bite that is less ideal than planned. That is a decision worth making knowingly, not by default.

Treatment is described further on the braces and orthodontics page.