How Do Elastic Bands Help Move Your Teeth?

February 10, 2023

If you’ve pursued orthodontic treatment, chances are you have seen or heard about elastic bands (also called rubber bands) used to help move teeth in some cases. These bands can be clear or colorful and help orthodontists correct misaligned bites and properly position teeth in combination with traditional braces.

But how exactly do elastic bands help move your teeth? Let’s take a closer look at how these bands can accelerate orthodontic treatment and help shift your teeth into place for a gorgeous smile as the final result.

Adds Force to Improve the Movement of Teeth

Braces can help correct malocclusion, the technical term for an improper bite. Malocclusion can present in many forms, including overbites, underbites, cross bites, and open bites.

While metal braces can certainly help correct these misaligned bites for a pain-free and beautiful smile, elastic bands help facilitate this process by putting additional force on specific brackets that help bring your jaw into alignment and shift teeth for a comfortable bite [1].

Since the elastic bands can easily be attached to the metal brackets used in braces, they can be used on virtually any teeth to help gently correct a bite or move teeth.

Connect the Upper and Low Braces

Your upper and lower teeth are not connected, so the wires and brackets that move your top teeth are not the same ones moving your bottom teeth when you have braces. Elastic bands can help connect upper and lower orthodontia to accelerate treatment and improve the position of your jaw and teeth.

By doing this, elastic bands can correct a poor bite, close gaps in your teeth, and potentially shorten your treatment time. In some cases, moving a tooth to a certain position may be impossible without the use of elastics, such as opening a space in the teeth or turning a tooth to face the correct way [2].

What to Know When Wearing Elastic Bands With Braces

Every patient is different, so it’s essential to follow your orthodontist’s instructions for wearing elastic bands with your braces. For example, you may need to wear bands all the time, or for only a few hours a day.

Doubling up on elastic bands will not accelerate your treatment time and can even cause damage to teeth, so only use one band as directed and replace as necessary. In addition, different bands will apply different amounts of force, so always use the bands your orthodontist provides [3].

Unlike braces, elastic bands can be removed for eating and cleaning, allowing you to take care of your smile while still having your jaw and teeth shifted into their correct positions. If you have any questions about using elastics with your orthodontia, don’t hesitate to contact your orthodontist.

Elastics Are Tools to Help Orthodontists

Ultimately, elastic bands are tools to help orthodontists predictably and safely shift your teeth and jaw into place. By using elastics, you can help your teeth get to where they need to go and correct your bite for a beautiful smile post-treatment.