Elastic Question

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#1 Post by **neelie** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 5:57 pm

Funny how you think of all these questions once you have left the ortho's office. Second adjustment today, replaced two power chains and added a third, hooked a tooth to the arch wire and elastics. Pain...but a heck of a lot must be happening! I was told to wear the elastics 24/7. If need be I can take them out to eat and of course to brush. Those of you with elastics do you put back the ones you just took out or every time you take them out to brush or eat put in new elastics?

#2 Post by **jennielee81** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 6:46 pm

I put back in the ones I took out ONLY if I hadn't eaten or drank anything with them in and if they'd not been in for more than about 3 or 4 hours.

Elastics do fantastic things with the bite! Good for you for following directions!

#3 Post by **neelie** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 10:44 am

Thanks for the good advice. As everyone has been saying all along each case is different. I did call my ortho and he advised me to change the elastics at least once a day and more if I feel the need. I may follow jennielee and change them after eating or drinking and brushing. The only foods I've tried eating since the elastics went in yesterday are soup (used a teaspoon) and yogurt. Teeth are too sore to try chewing anything yet. Not sure how this is going to work....eating with elastics. I imagine food gets caught up in them. What fun!

#4 Post by **jcdamon3** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 10:52 am

My ortho told me to change them 3/4 times a day. Every time I yawned I stretched them all out !

#5 Post by **neelie** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 2:57 pm

Wow! I haven't even tried to yawn yet. That will be just another challenge on this brace journey. I guess I have to give it more than one day to get use to these elastics.