just started elastics and have a few questions

[itsabouttime22]

So I finally am starting to wear elastics and have to say they aren't as bad as I thought. Thankfully I only have to waer them at least 12 hours a day so I don't have to teach in them. Although they don't effect my speech at all! Anyway I was just wondering...should I use a new set of elastics everytime I take them out - even if I've only had them in a short time and just want to eat really quick? Also how long have those of you with elastics had to wear them for? And how long was it before you noticed them really moving your teeth? I am just curious as to what to expect.

[Snowglobe32]

I had elastics for about 8-10 weeks. I will eventually go back to wearing them when I get closer to the end. It only took maybe a week to see a difference.

I changed my elastics atleast 5 times a day. I was able to take them out while eating. My ortho said that it takes about 9 hours to get them to work and only 1 hour of them being out to revert back.

If you start to have pain, try over the counter meds; a heating pad works really well also.

What to expect...that will depend on your configueration, what class you are and how heavy the elastics are. I am class 3, I had 3/8 heavy's, 2 on each side.

I will say this, your ortho will know if you are not wearing them properly. Wear them as instructed and you might get them off sooner.

Elastics are by far the worst aspect of having braces for me. Right when you get used to them, they become annoying.

Good Luck!

[jambo532]

I would give anything to be in elastics. I got springs instead (Pics on my blog for what they look like). He said they work a lot faster but i don't know about that. I have had them in for about 9 weeks now. I go back in 2 weeks and I am praying to the big man that I get the off. They are just awful because you can't take them off to eat. They just suck.... I'm jealous of you!
www.allbraced.blogspot.com

[farmboy]

I've recently been scaled down to nighttime wear after four months of having elastics 24/7 (class II on my left side, class III on my right side to straigten out my midline).

When I was wearing them all the time, I changed out the elastics every time I brushed my teeth (which worked out to three or four times a day). I think fresh elastics just work better.

[Gennie 50]

I've been in braces for 10 months. My Ortho says that elastics are a necessary evil. I've had them for about 5 months and I change them often. Always put in new ones. Fresh elastics do work better.

Good luck with your braces journey.

[BraceFace2o1o]

I've been wearing elastics for about 4-5 weeks, can't remember exactly, but about a week after my lowers went on.

I am wearing them to straighten my lower 1st and 2nd premolars which are tipped inwards. My Ortho told me to change them every 2 days, which I thought was odd and he also said if I felt they were loose to replace them sooner. I was told to remove them while eating and brushing but to wear at all other times. I did quite well, maybe having them out for a maximum of 1 hour out of 24. Just lately though I have been slacking and feel really bad about it and hope I haven't caused any damage (some days they have been out for about 3-4 hours). I read on another brace forum that not wearing your elastics enough or keeping them out too long can cause root resoprtion? not sure if that's totally accurate, but yeah it made me worry. I have noticed the teeth my elastics are attached to get really sore when I leave them out for more than an hour combined a day so going to try my hardest to wear them better! The teeth also feel loose, which I haven't really experienced in any other teeth with just braces alone.

My ortho said that it takes about 9 hours to get them to work and only 1 hour of them being out to revert back.

If this is correct then I really need to stop being lazy and go put my elastics in straight after my main meal