When your orthodontist attaches different components for braces treatment, like a rubber band, you have to be cautious and maintain it regularly. And, when it causes pain, you want to know, “What happens if you don’t wear your rubber bands with braces?”
If you don’t wear rubber bands with braces once a while or for a few days, it won’t cause any serious problems. But, when you do it frequently, teeth can’t move properly, correction of the bite will be hampered and treatment will be delayed.
The progress and the outcome of treatment may not be satisfactory as well. However, if you feel too much pain and don’t want to wear elastic bands, learn the techniques to relieve pain from rubber bands.
What should you do to overcome these problems and how to maintain or follow the instructions given by your orthodontist?
Let’s know about it in detail.
What happens if you don’t wear rubber bands with braces regularly?
Braces brackets remain fixed to your teeth during orthodontic treatment. But, the rubber band is a removable component. That means patients have to maintain, remove, and attach it regularly.
As it’s not fixed, the braces wearers sometimes don’t maintain it according to the orthodontist’s instruction. In addition, sometimes, the braces hook may fall off that might be a cause of your not wearing the rubber bands.
Now, the question is what’ll be the possible consequences of not wearing a rubber band regularly?
Let’s look at the effect of not wearing the rubber bands for braces.
1. Preventing tooth movement.
The rubber band gives constant force to teeth and puts pressure on bones that hold your teeth.
This changes the bone structure and creates a path for teeth movement.
When you don’t wear a rubber band regularly, this process won’t take place properly.
As a result, a tooth can’t move and the treatment won’t be effective.
2. Delaying tooth alignment.
You get the elastic bands to bite correction like fixing an overbite. But, when you don’t use it properly, it can’t fix the bite and align your teeth accurately.
3. Continuous pain and discomfort.
When you first get a rubber band, you feel pain and discomfort for the first few days. So, you may remove it and attach it again when the pain is relieved.
This approach is totally wrong. If you do this, you won’t get used to the rubber band and it’ll keep hurting you.
But, if you use it properly, you’ll get used to it over time.
4. Not getting used to the elastics.
Every time you get a new component or attachment with braces, you will need time to get used to it. So, if you stay away from rubber bands, it will take more time.
5. Delaying treatment.
If you don’t follow any part of orthodontic treatment, there will be a delay in the completion of the treatment. So, not wearing the elastic will also delay the treatment.
6. Poor outcome of treatment
Treatment outcome won’t be satisfactory, as not wearing rubber bands according to advice loses the effectiveness of treatment and delays it.
What happens if you don’t wear rubber bands with braces for a day or 2 days?
If you forget to wear elastic bands, or may not wear them for an emergency for a day or 2 days, it’s not a big deal. Not wearing the rubber bands once or twice a week or month doesn’t cause any problem. But, don’t do it frequently as it may cause serious problems.
What will happen if you forget to wear rubber bands for a week?
When you run out of rubber bands while on a tour outside of your town, you could be unable to wear them for several days to a few weeks. So, you may ask, “I forgot to wear my rubber for a week. What will happen?”
There are no major problems if you can’t wear rubber bands for a week. But, it shouldn’t happen frequently because this will stop the progress of treatment and the duration of braces will be prolonged.
The rubber band needs to change every day. So, you need to make a collection of these elastics.
But, you can’t use the bands which you buy from a dental store. Rather, you have to use the bands provided by your orthodontist.
However, if you are taking a break from wearing these elastics regularly, start maintaining them properly as soon as possible.
In addition, inform your orthodontist about the situation so that he or she can treat it accordingly.
What will happen if you forget to wear rubber bands for a month?
The rubber bands won’t move your teeth to the desired position at all if you don’t wear them for a month. In fact, because braces are still working on your teeth, it could shift your teeth into an unexpected or previous position. As a result, it can delay treatment and mess up the treatment.
What to do when you don’t wear rubber bands regularly?
You have learned what happens if you don’t wear rubber bands with braces. Now, let’s know what to do if you have already done the mistake and how to overcome it.
1. Inform your orthodontist.
Don’t be shy or afraid to tell your orthodontist about not using the rubber bands. You should do it for your own good. Your orthodontist will make a plan based on the situation.
2. Wear rubber bands regularly.
Your orthodontist may suggest you wear them for 22 to 24 hours a day. This means you have to wear it all the time except during brushing of teeth. Follow the instruction given by him or her.
And, what if the rubber band is the last step to braces treatment? Shouldn’t you wear them in that case?
3. Change the elastics regularly.
You can’t wear the same rubber band for the whole day. You have to change it 3 to 4 times a day, especially after each meal. Otherwise, it’ll lose effectiveness.
4. Don’t double up the rubber bands.
If you don’t wear rubber bands sometimes, don’t double up the bands or try to put extra pressure on your teeth. This will damage the teeth and make the condition worst.
After knowing the consequences of not wearing a rubber band, you may want to overcome it by any means. Even many people think of doubling up the bands or putting more pressure on teeth.
Never do that. This will make the situation worst. We, orthodontists, put an ideal pressure on teeth, neither excess nor less.
If we give an excessive amount of pressure, teeth will get destroyed. Keep in mind that, your teeth can’t bear the excess amount of pressure.
5. Don’t buy from a dental store.
Your orthodontist gives you rubber bands that are perfect for you. He or she does it based on the severity of cases and treatment planning. So, you should never buy those from a dental store. Always use the bands which your orthodontist gives you.
6. Make a collection of rubber bands.
Since you can’t buy rubber bands elsewhere, try to collect as many as you can from your orthodontist.
7. Practice proper oral hygiene.
Maintaining oral hygiene with braces and their components is hard. So, you should be more careful. Maintain hygiene and get a better outcome from using rubber bands with braces.
Remember all of your efforts and investments. Consider the cost of the treatment if you are not wearing the rubber bands frequently and taking it seriously.
You also have to make a lot of sacrifices like pain, discomfort, and others in day-to-day life for braces treatment.
So, why don’t you follow the advice provided by your orthodontist? If you do, you can get rid of it fast.
Learn how to get braces off faster.
Takeaways
In short, not wearing rubber bands with braces for a few days or once a while may not cause any major issues. However, you shouldn’t do it often because doing so will stop the progress of your treatment and prolong the removal of your braces.
So, try to wear the elastics regularly and maintain them according to the instructions to accelerate the orthodontic treatment.
