Rubber bands with braces?

Question

I'm getting braces next week, and I really don't understand anything about the rubber bands. What's their purpose? Why do they hurt? Can you take them on and off, and if so, how often do I wear them?

Answer 1

i cant give you a direct answer. some times http://www.gethealthytips.com may help you

Answer 2

the bands are to help pull your jaw into alignment.  they hurt because they're pulling back on your teeth and causing them to move into the place desired by your orthodontist/dentist.  you can take them on and off as you need to (eating and singing and such) and you'll be given instructions when you get the bands on when to wear them and for how long they need to stay in (mine were usually just over night)

Answer 3

ughhh rubber bands...

just got mine on saturday and theyhurt but you can get used to them and ONLY take them off when you eat so you can have them for less time...

and the good thing about them is that's like how you know when you are almost finished with braces..that's the very LAST thing...

good luck!!

Answer 4

Hey I wear braces! The rubber bands only add color to your braces. They're really fun cuz you get to pick your colors. Braces are meant to align your teeth so they get straight... The pressure from the braces hurts you teeth so... no, you can't take them off, but you can just ask to not change the color if you want.

Answer 5

My daughter wore braces for about two and a half years and had to wear rubber bands at varous times. She had little hooks on the braces where the rubber bands could be put on. They shreded the insides of her cheeks and always snapped when she took them off. Sometimes they snapped when she was putting them on. The purpose of these bands is to move a tooth or work on a small area that braces aren't able to accomplish. They come in different sizes. My daughter used two. One is called "Kangaroo" and the other is called "Penguin" and they come in little white bags with the pictures of the animals on them. The Kangaroo ones are smaller than the Penguin. My daughter says there is another size called "Walrus", which is fairly large, but she never had to use them. As for wearing them, she had to wear them all the time except for when she was eating or cleaning her teeth. She really did not like them. They made her talk funny and they hurt.

Answer 6

Rubber bands that go around the individual braces on each tooth? Dont hurt. Cant take them off- only by the dental assitant

Rubber bands to help fix an overbite (that go from top to bottom)? Hurt- can remove and replace while eating. But these are usually worn at the end of the process for maybe 6 months.

But ALL well worth it!!

Answer 7

Ok there are rubber bands they pull your upper canines down to help further rearrange your mouth. Yes you can take them out and your supposed to WHENEVER you eat this includes chips and soup. I dont know if your talking about rubberbands that connect your jaw with your upper teeth or the rubber bands that you can choose your colors

Answer 8

They put more pressure on certain areas of the teeth.  Also, they can pull teeth together faster, if you have a space.  Do what the ortho tells you to do...  Then, they'll come off faster.

Answer 9

Elastics (the things that go over your brackets)

or

Rubber bands?

This is what I've got going on:

http://flickr.com/photos/debonairephotog...

Those rubber bands are in placement of jaw surgery or headgear.  They bring your jaw to the position it should be.  They vary-- from going across your mouth in the front, or going on the sides.  I don't think they hurt at all, although it does get a little sore after you just get your braces readjusted because the bands are pulling on your whole bracket.  Pain goes away within a day.  You can take them on and off, but if you keep them off too long, then your teeth shift back.  You're supposed to wear them continously

Hopefully this is what you were referring to.  You'll do fine!  

Answer 10

1.they make your braces look colorful.2.no they dont hurt.3.no they stay on until you go back to thr ortho for appointments.4.the whole time you have braces.

Answer 11

Usually rubber bands are used for overbites.  I just got my braces in June and I don't have to get the bands for another four months.  

Answer 12

Rubberbands are used for tons of different reasons. not just overbites in general, they help to solve small different little problems that needs fixing in your teeth like, shifting your teeth backwards for example. there's too many different varieties for why they are used especially because all teeth are different. When you get rubber bands, ask your orthodontist what it's purpose is for your case in particular.

They hurt because they shift your teeth in a different direction than your teeth naturally grew in.

yes you can take them on an off. Usually some people take them off when they eat so food doesn't get stuck.

and depending on your teeth and your certain case with your braces you might have to wear them all the time, only at night, only in the morning, etc. it really just depends on how much movement is needed.

PS YOU MIGHT NOT EVEN NEED RUBBERBANDS ;)

Answer 13

The rubber bands change your bite.

Answer 14

you can take them off when you eat... the dentist will let you know how often you should wear them but they are to get rid of an overbite.

Answer 15

I have had braces for 8 months now and cant wait till i get them off!!

Yes the braces do hurt! But its not a pain that you can't handle. The rubber bands that go over the wire or teh rubber bands that connect your top jaw and are pulled by your bottom jaw lol.

well i had an overbite and teh rubber bands have pulled my eye teeth back into place where the teeth i had removed were. And my over bite is already smalled. And now next month he is going to start moving my front jaw back. Lol its a long process but well worth it in the end. I think the younger teh better im nearly 18 and am stuck with braces but if you can make them work with your style be proud of them and dont try and hide them it makes it more obviouse. Also get brightly coloured bands on your braces so people know its braces not some random stuff stuck to your teeth

Hope this helps

PEACE