Can you use elastic bands INSTEAD of braces?

Question

I was wondering if you could put an elastic band around your teeth , and hook it around your back molars so theres a band in the back of your mouth and it goes around the front of your teeth and it would work like braces (push your teeth back), the more stretched out they are they less preasure they use, they do put presure on your teeth , but i don't know if they are attcaully effective, i don't think it is as much as braces though

Answer 1

NO, won't work and you have NO IDEA what you are doing!

Answer 2

I have a under bite which means my bottom jaw is over my top. I got it fixed, i used these special elastic bands and it worked well for my case but i don't think the elastic bands will replace braces.

Answer 3

If you're talking about SELF-DIAGNOSING because you don't want to get braces, you're going to do much more harm than good.  An orthodontist has additional training beyond dental school to know when and how alignment should be corrected.  You don't have that knowledge to decide for yourself that rubber bands would work.

Are there times when the orthodontist will use rubber bands instead of braces?  Sure.  And lots of times when the rubber bands are used with braces.  

Let the professionals determine what you need.  

Answer 4

Elastic bands alone are not strong enough to replace braces.