Elastics (rubber bands) are a critical part of your orthodontic care. The brackets and wires of your braces are used to straighten the top and bottom teeth. The elastics are specifically used to get your top and bottom teeth to fit together correctly. If your elastics are not worn, although your teeth will be straight, they will not fit together properly, resulting in an incorrect bite. It is very important to be diligent about your elastic wear. Wearing bands at night or for only half of the day won’t do the job! Think of an elastic band as a force that pushes a car up a hill. If you decide to stop pushing the car at any point, it will roll backwards. The same will also happen with your teeth and you’ll end up in the same place you started. (How frustrating!) Your orthodontic elastics gently move your teeth into a healthier position. At Windermere Orthodontics we offer a variety of elastic options for your braces. From latex and non-latex options, clear or colored, we can find the best type for you. After months of orthodontic treatment, you want success in all aspects (straight teeth, corrected bite, etc.) so make sure to stay on track and wear those elastics!
– Dr. Michael Gorlovsky