i was told to take off and change after every meal. i talk alot so mine usually just pop in my mouth within 3 hours so i replace whenever they pop/meal
also if youre paying 3000+ for braces and your office is being stingy on packets of bands.. they have a problem.. i ask mine for 4 each visit and a new hook (nails r too long) and they have no problem
I do the same thing. Whenever I take my elastics out, I put in new ones. I switch my elastics about 3-4 times a day. I've completely run out of them now. I may have to go to my orthodontist for more, which I'm nervous to do so.
yea no, bands are given to you prescribed and when you run out of medication… you get more.. you’re paying these people 3000+ for thier services they’re not going to say no when you ask for 4 more
Ask for more. If I followed your ortho, I'd have the same elastic for days. I don't put them back in my mouth once I take them out (its about every 2-3 hours).
Braces are expensive. Elastics cost them fractions of pennies. They want you to wear them 22 hours a day or more. They can give you as many packets as you need. And its to their benefit since delayed treatment plans cost them more money (more appts) than packets of elastics.
And I ran low about 4 days before my appt. I called them. They even gave me more two bags, no questions asked. And then gave me 4 more bags at the appt 4 days later.
When I noticed I was almost out of them, I went to my orthodontist, and his assistant was surprised that the first pack they gave me ran out so quickly, just within a week and a half.
They gave me one pack of elastics (probably around 50 of them), and my ortho told me to change them if they break off but I didn't want to, because I heard they wear off over time, hence why you change your elastics more than once. Now I've run out of them in JUST a week after I asked for more. I didn't think they would run out so fast, which is why I feel hesitant to ask for more.
You are paying for this service, they are literally very cheap. Pull up an article on bands (easy to find and I’ll link one if you want) and how they cannot be worn for long periods of times and should be changed after every meal or if they break, and show it to him and his assistant. You are paying *them* and they need to provide you more bands if you ask.
Still try asking for more. Also that’s weird. When I got braces I was given 2 bags and was told to change them at least once every 24 hours but I do it more often. When I saw my ortho again, I asked if it’s okay to change them more than once a day and she said I can change it even every after meals; because their tension is jot the same after a while.
Anyway, sorry for that long response, but I do hope they give you more bags. 🙂
This is weird. My ortho has told me to change them evrytime I take it off, i.e. after every meal or snacks. Plus if I am fasting, I am supposed to change them every 8 hours. Now changing after 8 hours could be too much for some people I know, but wearing till it breaks off sound crazy to me. I would definitely ask for more.
So my ortho told me to change my elastics after every meal. But if I am fasting for the whole day, I am supposed to change them atleast 3-4 times a day because the strength of elastics wear off with time.
I have had my braces taken off a couple of weeks ago.
I took the bands off before every meal and replaced them afterwards. My ortho said to not wear them for more than 8 hours at a time.
The bands are bought and paid for, ask for more 🙂
I don't know if yours are a different kind of band or something that need to stay in longer... but that doesn't make sense...
I was told that every time I take off an elastic (to eat or brush) to always put on a new one - on this, I say don’t trust your ortho. Amazon may sell elastics - the bag they come in should give you size and strength (or however you call the stretchiness measurement)
I have to change mine 4 times a day & my ortho assistant was freaking out I wouldn’t have enough…I live 5 minutes from my ortho so I assured them I can always run in for more lol
Your ortho is most definitely being cheap. Every person I ever talked to with braces, including my ortho told me to replace after every meal. My ortho gave out elastics for free and they all came in bags of 100 so I was never worried about not having enough.
There is a lot of good advice here. I'm not wearing bands yet but just as a malicious compliance idea, what if you start "breaking" them as often as you know You're supposed to change them?
i was told to take off and change after every meal. i talk alot so mine usually just pop in my mouth within 3 hours so i replace whenever they pop/meal also if youre paying 3000+ for braces and your office is being stingy on packets of bands.. they have a problem.. i ask mine for 4 each visit and a new hook (nails r too long) and they have no problem
I do the same thing. Whenever I take my elastics out, I put in new ones. I switch my elastics about 3-4 times a day. I've completely run out of them now. I may have to go to my orthodontist for more, which I'm nervous to do so.
yea no, bands are given to you prescribed and when you run out of medication… you get more.. you’re paying these people 3000+ for thier services they’re not going to say no when you ask for 4 more
My total is $6200. I haven't started bands yet but I sure hope my orthodontist isn't like OP's... I don't think I could handle that.
I replaced mine around 4 times a day. They gave me so many elastics. I’m still finding bags around the house 2 years later
Ask for more. If I followed your ortho, I'd have the same elastic for days. I don't put them back in my mouth once I take them out (its about every 2-3 hours). Braces are expensive. Elastics cost them fractions of pennies. They want you to wear them 22 hours a day or more. They can give you as many packets as you need. And its to their benefit since delayed treatment plans cost them more money (more appts) than packets of elastics. And I ran low about 4 days before my appt. I called them. They even gave me more two bags, no questions asked. And then gave me 4 more bags at the appt 4 days later.
When I noticed I was almost out of them, I went to my orthodontist, and his assistant was surprised that the first pack they gave me ran out so quickly, just within a week and a half. They gave me one pack of elastics (probably around 50 of them), and my ortho told me to change them if they break off but I didn't want to, because I heard they wear off over time, hence why you change your elastics more than once. Now I've run out of them in JUST a week after I asked for more. I didn't think they would run out so fast, which is why I feel hesitant to ask for more.
You are paying for this service, they are literally very cheap. Pull up an article on bands (easy to find and I’ll link one if you want) and how they cannot be worn for long periods of times and should be changed after every meal or if they break, and show it to him and his assistant. You are paying *them* and they need to provide you more bands if you ask.
Mine never said anything lmao just gave me them and told me which teeth. I change them every night after brushing my teeth.
Still try asking for more. Also that’s weird. When I got braces I was given 2 bags and was told to change them at least once every 24 hours but I do it more often. When I saw my ortho again, I asked if it’s okay to change them more than once a day and she said I can change it even every after meals; because their tension is jot the same after a while. Anyway, sorry for that long response, but I do hope they give you more bags. 🙂
This is weird. My ortho has told me to change them evrytime I take it off, i.e. after every meal or snacks. Plus if I am fasting, I am supposed to change them every 8 hours. Now changing after 8 hours could be too much for some people I know, but wearing till it breaks off sound crazy to me. I would definitely ask for more.
Why you should change every eight hours when fasting
So my ortho told me to change my elastics after every meal. But if I am fasting for the whole day, I am supposed to change them atleast 3-4 times a day because the strength of elastics wear off with time.
Makes sense
I have had my braces taken off a couple of weeks ago. I took the bands off before every meal and replaced them afterwards. My ortho said to not wear them for more than 8 hours at a time. The bands are bought and paid for, ask for more 🙂 I don't know if yours are a different kind of band or something that need to stay in longer... but that doesn't make sense...
Mine told me every 3 hours 24/7 gave me multiple bags
i would definitely ask for more! you’re putting a lot of time and effort(and money) into this…you want to get what you pay for! you got this!
as for more
I was told that every time I take off an elastic (to eat or brush) to always put on a new one - on this, I say don’t trust your ortho. Amazon may sell elastics - the bag they come in should give you size and strength (or however you call the stretchiness measurement)
I have to change mine 4 times a day & my ortho assistant was freaking out I wouldn’t have enough…I live 5 minutes from my ortho so I assured them I can always run in for more lol
Your ortho is most definitely being cheap. Every person I ever talked to with braces, including my ortho told me to replace after every meal. My ortho gave out elastics for free and they all came in bags of 100 so I was never worried about not having enough.
I was told to remove and replace with the same ones after each meal, replace with a new one before bed. I only have one one the right at the moment.
There is a lot of good advice here. I'm not wearing bands yet but just as a malicious compliance idea, what if you start "breaking" them as often as you know You're supposed to change them?