How Do Rubber Bands Work With Braces?

Why Rubber Bands?

If you've ever had braces, your orthodontist may have prescribed rubber band attachments to the brackets. You likely saw a drastic improvement in the straightness of your teeth while using rubber bands. Because of their strength, rubber bands can cause teeth to move in different directions and straighten more quickly. They can also cause more pain and discomfort due to this extra strength, and can be difficult to put on and take off every day. However, they can greatly shorten the duration one wears braces, which is why so many orthodontists recommend them.

How Rubber Bands Help Straighten Teeth

When an orthodontist uses rubber bands, he hooks a rubber band on one upper bracket and hooks it to the lower bracket, so the rubber band goes vertically or diagonally from one bracket to another. The tension of the rubber band produces pressure on the bracket, which causes the teeth to move and straighten. This tension is also sufficient to correct an overbite or an underbite in the jaw.

Restrictions of Rubber Bands

Naturally, if you have rubber bands on your braces, you can't eat any solid foods. That is why rubber bands are often worn at night, but if they are worn during they day, they must be taken off and reapplied before and after meals. Rubber bands can also present problems if the wearer stretches his mouth open too much, which causes the rubber bands to painfully snap inside the mouth. However, as with braces, most wearers get used to the rubber bands in a small amount of time, and are thankful they had them when they see the accelerated progress of their teeth.