Metal Mouth Message Board

I got elastics at my adjustment yesterday. They told me how to do the triangle configuration but they didn't tell me how long I needed to wear them. Is it safe to assume that I should be wearing them 24hrs a day except when eating or brushing? It's very hard to open my mouth with these things! I have to drink with a straw! Hopefully that will get better!

I wouldn't assume 24 hours - although that's been my experience. I would call the ortho's office just to make sure.

i would assume 24/7 but u could make sure if you wanted too

I have triangles too and I wear them 24/7 but as you know...you need to remove these guys for eating since you can barely open your mouth! These are tough, what size are you wearing?

How long is it before u can tell that the elastics have started working?

I have triangles too and I wear them 24/7 but as you know...you need to remove these guys for eating since you can barely open your mouth! These are tough, what size are you wearing?

They're GAC brand 4mm Heavy. It's such a pain trying to open my mouth! When they first put them on, I could hardly open my mouth to talk!!! GRR!

How often do u have to change them? My ortho says every 24 hours but im not sure

I have a looong time before I get elastics but when I got my brackets on the person next to me was getting elastics for first time. Ortho basically told them the more you wear them the sooner you won't have to anymore.

Howdy,
I've had elastics for two months now. I wear Ormco Ram type. You should be able to tell that they are working in two or three weeks - at least that's what I noticed. I'm supposed to wear them 24/7. I take them out to eat and then brush my teeth and I change them when I brush before bed. So, I change mine 4 times a day and I wear them for about 20 hours (I'm a slow eater, especially when I have a cup of coffee after breakfast!)

My ortho gave me a sheet with information on how to put them on and other info. Here's some of the interesting stuff from the sheet:
- You are responsible for placing the elastics on your braces. Be sure to wear them all the time as instructed. Remove them only while you are brushing your teeth. We would like you to wear them while you are eating if at all possible. If you do remove them to eat, replace them immediately after your meal.
- If you forget to put your elastics on one day, don't double up the next day. Just follow your regular instructions.
- Rubber bands get tired. Change them frequently, at least three to four times a day. When they lose their stretch, rubber bands don't provide the proper pressure on your teeth. So it is very important to change them, even if they are not broken.
- It takes 10 hours for your teeth to start moving. It only takes three hours for them to stop.

Why do all orthos think differently?? Now im really confused. Am I supposed to change them every 24 hours like he said eg every morning or at least 3 to 4 times a day?

I'd just double check with the ortho to see what they recommend. I ate with my old elastics in but my new elastics and new configuration make it impossible to do that now. I have to remove them to eat. I can't even yawn with these elastics now.

Leslie- I am in number 73 1/4 - 16oz. Ouch is all I can say. I look like a have fangs with these in. Very attractive. I have to say, they immediately changed my bite within a few hours.

Henna_the_braceface wrote:Why do all orthos think differently?? Now im really confused. Am I supposed to change them every 24 hours like he said eg every morning or at least 3 to 4 times a day?

There was a recent thread about elastics and when to change them and how many times.

Someone mentioning that changing them once a day means you are providing slow movement for your teeth, which is a decision your ortho has made. Call up your ortho ofice and ask them.

I try to wear mine as much as possible. My Ortho gave me some lee-way and said its ok if i dont wear them during the day because mines arent super-social and are a pain to talk with.

Have been wearing my new configuration for a couple of weeks now, since the pain has subsided, i rekcon the elastics are certainly doing their job in fixing my midline. The first night i wore my elastics, the next morning my midline was almost spot on, but when i took them off for the day, i notced that it has been put back to its original position. The weks folwed and afterwhile, the midline is strating to stay more centred, thats indication to me its doing its job.

Thanks Nahky I will ask.

The various options could also be because the ortho doesn't want to OVER correct the problem. Mine has said in the past to just wear it for a week or two until the other problem tooth has moved. Other times I had to wear them longer.

I wear mine 24/7 too, sometimes a pause after eating, maybe an hour.
SOMETIMES at night I wake up and have this awful sore in my mouth where the bracket and the elastic meet and I just take it out and throw it against the wall!!!

Chris u make an intresting point. The elastics are to fix my midline and it is only a fraction off. So maybe he doesn't want to over correct it like u said! thanks!