Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi! I just got elastics today. How long can I wear them before putting on a new pair? Thanks!

I usually change mine twice a day. I started out changing them once a day because that's what the assistant said to do, but they lose their elasticity pretty quickly.

I was told by my ortho that I would need to change them about 4 times a day. I change them after every meal, and at night before bed so this works out to 4-5 times per day.

chichi wrote:I usually change mine twice a day. I started out changing them once a day because that's what the assistant said to do, but they lose their elasticity pretty quickly.

chichi, I should had google searched before posting here.

http://www.getyourbraces.com/elastics-( ... ands).html

Answered most of my elastic questions

mapleleafman888 wrote:I was told by my ortho that I would need to change them about 4 times a day. I change them after every meal, and at night before bed so this works out to 4-5 times per day.

I got two baggies of elastics. Would it last me until next month if I change them 4 times a day?

jtsang wrote:I got two baggies of elastics. Would it last me until next month if I change them 4 times a day?

It depends on how many elastics are in your baggies. Mine come in packs of 100.. not sure whether that's standard or not

chichi wrote:

jtsang wrote:I got two baggies of elastics. Would it last me until next month if I change them 4 times a day?

It depends on how many elastics are in your baggies. Mine come in packs of 100.. not sure whether that's standard or not

should i pour them out and count?? it's not labeled on the bag..

I only ran out once. I'm 45 minutes away from my Orthodontist. I called them when I got low and they just stuck a couple packages in the mail for me. No charge, no hassle.

TMJJill wrote:I only ran out once. I'm 45 minutes away from my Orthodontist. I called them when I got low and they just stuck a couple packages in the mail for me. No charge, no hassle.

Nice!!

jtsang wrote:should i pour them out and count?? it's not labeled on the bag..

haha that might be unnecessary. Just do what TMJJill says and ask for more if you're running low.

I'm pretty sure just about every ortho will mail you more if you ask; they really want you to wear them and they are really cheap. Personally, I changed them every time I had to take them out... that meant after every meal (or snack) and at bedtime. I kept a pack in each bathroom at home, and a pack in each car.

sirwired wrote:I'm pretty sure just about every ortho will mail you more if you ask; they really want you to wear them and they are really cheap. Personally, I changed them every time I had to take them out... that meant after every meal (or snack) and at bedtime. I kept a pack in each bathroom at home, and a pack in each car.

Thank you! I will call them when I am low. They are only a couple miles away so I can just drop by for more.

jtsang wrote:

mapleleafman888 wrote:I was told by my ortho that I would need to change them about 4 times a day. I change them after every meal, and at night before bed so this works out to 4-5 times per day.

I got two baggies of elastics. Would it last me until next month if I change them 4 times a day?

If you change your elastics 5 times a day that's 300 elastics per month ((150x2)this includes left and right sides). I think the bags are filled to 100. I got 3 bags to start, and I got my ortho to mail me out another 3...I have exactly 2 months between appoinments so 6 bags will work out perfectly.

mapleleafman888 wrote:

jtsang wrote:

mapleleafman888 wrote:I was told by my ortho that I would need to change them about 4 times a day. I change them after every meal, and at night before bed so this works out to 4-5 times per day.

I got two baggies of elastics. Would it last me until next month if I change them 4 times a day?

If you change your elastics 5 times a day that's 300 elastics per month ((150x2)this includes left and right sides). I think the bags are filled to 100. I got 3 bags to start, and I got my ortho to mail me out another 3...I have exactly 2 months between appoinments so 6 bags will work out perfectly.

Awesome! Thank you maple!!

The ortho assistant told me to change them once a day, but I think it is much better to change them more often, so I asked for a few extra bags of elastics which was no problem. I change them about 4 times a day.