First time Elastics how long will it hurt?!?

This is the place to post general questions and comments about all areas of orthodontic treatment. Before you post a question, use the forum's SEARCH tool to see if your question has already been answered!

New Members: YOU MUST MAKE A POST WITHIN 24 HOURS OF REGISTERING OR YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE DELETED. In other words, don't sign up unless you plan to actively participate in the message board immediately. This is necessary to keep out spammers and lurkers with bad intentions. Of course, you can read most forums on the board without registering.

DO NOT POST FULL-FACE PHOTOS or personal contact information on this website. We have had problems with people re-posting members' photos on fetish websites. Please only post photos of your teeth, not your whole face. Keep your email and your personal information private. Thank you.

Moderator: bbsadmin

Post Reply
Message
Author
ucldbmine
Posts: 45
Joined: Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:08 pm
Location: spokane, Washington

First time Elastics how long will it hurt?!?

#1 Post by ucldbmine »

My orhto appointment yesterday sucked to say the least. I'm in Damons and this is my 4th adjustment. Each time before it has been relatively painless. I was a little annoyed at the rather large gap that opened between my front two teeth after my last adjustment so I mentioned it to my ortho yesterday. I ended up with a bigger wire, power chains and V pattern elastics on both sides. My mouth hurt last night like never before! My jaw feels like it wants to break in two. Woke up this morning and that pesky gap is gone!! No wonder my teeth hurt they were busy moving, but how long does it take for your jaw to get use to wearing the elastics I already feel like giving up on them and it's been 30 hours.

lionfish
Posts: 2635
Joined: Wed May 18, 2005 4:16 pm
Location: emerald city, oz

#2 Post by lionfish »

It took me a couple of days to get used to them, and they were the one piece of equipment that has pushed me into taking painkillers. Do persist with wearing them, though, because they do work.

ssfw
Posts: 652
Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2005 1:00 pm

#3 Post by ssfw »

I received elastics for the first time 3 weeks ago and never had any pain. In fact, I am so amazed at the movement the elastics made on my teeth in such a short time. The only problem I had the first 1-1/2 weeks was the constant rubbing of the elastics on the inside of my mouth and warm saltwater rinses solved that problem.

Keep us posted.

ssfw
Quad-Helix expander: 1/20/06 - 1/16/07
Upper braces: 5/19/06; lower braces: 9/7/06

Braces removed: 8/19/08
Received retainer: 8/26/08 - wearing retainer 24 hours/day

Next appt.: 11/18/08

User avatar
jennielee81
Posts: 2144
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2005 2:31 pm
Location: The Old Line State

#4 Post by jennielee81 »

It took me about 5 days to get used to my V elastics. The class II's were less painful for some reason.

Give it time, it'll become "normal" before you know it!!! Image
"Life is an occasion; RISE TO IT!" --Mr. Magorium
I wore Damon 3's and Opals for 20 months at age 42. Braces off January 2007
http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=3535 a little more about me here: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/co ... 961130.htm

bckydgardnr
Posts: 88
Joined: Thu Jul 07, 2005 12:34 pm
Location: maryland

#5 Post by bckydgardnr »

I had a lot of pain for the first 3-4 days with each different configuration of elastics...then woke up the next morning and they didn't hurt anymore. Just keep wearing them...no breaks. Sometimes at work after I have taken them out to eat lunch I will get pulled into something and forget to put them back in. Then when I put them in- OUCH! So I kinda feel like I have taken a step backwards when I forget. Ibuprofen or tylenol is your friend now!!!
Garndr
bckydgardnr
braced 1/18/05

Image

Drama Queen
Posts: 109
Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2006 12:27 pm
Location: Essex, UK

#6 Post by Drama Queen »

I am now on my third type of elastics since starting wearing braces just over 5 months ago. And each time the pain is within about the first few days and then it settles down, then for the rest of the month it only tends to hurt every now and again. This month has been quite bad, i have a triangle configuration on both sides and the elastic has caused a great big gash in the side of my mouth, but with the help of painkillers and salt water rinses it has got better.

Keep persisting and taking painkillers and it does get easier. Elastics are amazing and make big changes to the bite, I have noticed a hell of a lot of difference in my open bit.

lau xx
Braced on 25 July 2006 Ceramic upper and lowers
Braces off on 3 April 2008

User avatar
Gennel
Posts: 643
Joined: Mon May 01, 2006 5:19 am

#7 Post by Gennel »

I had a lot of pain when I got elastics. It hurt so bad that I thought it would last for weeks but it didnt . The pain was gone in less than a week. Keep wearing them. If you stop using them and then put them on again , the same pain will begin again :( I never did that because my ortho warned me about this and I read many posts here from people taking a break from elastics because they couldnt stand the pain. They put them back on a day later and the terrible pain was back again. Take some aleve or Tylenol every 4-6 hrs for the first 3-4 days and this pain will pass. I found to have the most pain at night because my mouth would snap shut really hard . So I took the pain pills mostly at night time.

Gennel

juf_84
Posts: 379
Joined: Fri May 26, 2006 2:51 am
Location: NSW, Australia
Contact:

#8 Post by juf_84 »

I've had elastics since day one, although for the first two months they were only on at night. Now they are 24/7.

You'll get used to them very quickly. I find now my teeth and jaw hurts when they have been left out too long- and my mouth just feels weird!

Best of luck with your elastics, and your treatment!
Banded 22 June 2006.
Debanded 24 July 2007.
Loving it!

Drama Queen
Posts: 109
Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2006 12:27 pm
Location: Essex, UK

#9 Post by Drama Queen »

Meryaten - thanks for the advice, though I find the worst time is in the morning once I wake up cos my mouth gets so dry while I am asleep, I literally have to prise my mouth away from the brackets and the elastics!

Lau xx
Braced on 25 July 2006 Ceramic upper and lowers
Braces off on 3 April 2008

JessicaRabbit
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Jun 18, 2016 10:10 am

Re: First time Elastics how long will it hurt?!?

#10 Post by JessicaRabbit »

I stopped wearing them for a week. Today was the first time Input them back in, and i felt no pain. My orthodontist also told me to double them.

JessicaRabbit
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Jun 18, 2016 10:10 am

Re: First time Elastics how long will it hurt?!?

#11 Post by JessicaRabbit »

I stopped wearing them for a week. Today was the first time Input them back in, and i felt no pain. My orthodontist also told me to double them.

duelmaster42
Posts: 10
Joined: Thu Mar 23, 2017 8:18 am

Re: First time Elastics how long will it hurt?!?

#12 Post by duelmaster42 »

It took about 3 days before my first elastics stopped acheing. In the subsequent adjustments, the pain went away in a day.

Post Reply