It is rare that we see a patient with braces who doesn’t need to wear rubber bands at some point in their treatment. Rubber bands work in conjunction with braces to achieve a beautiful smile along with an excellent bite. With braces, we are able to straighten the upper and lower teeth independent of one another. Rubber bands allow the upper and lower teeth to fit with one another.

General Instructions
To ensure you will have an excellent smile and a great bite, there are a few important guidelines you need to follow exactly as instructed.
Wearing rubber bands will initially make your teeth sore. This soreness will go away after a couple of days of continuous wear. Giving your teeth a “break” from the rubber band will only make them feel sore again the next time you wear them.
Consistent rubber band wear is one of the most critical determinants of whether treatment is completed on time. Wear your rubber bands 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, unless otherwise instructed. The only times that you are allowed to take them off are during main meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We do not recommend taking them off for small snacks. The following video shows the relapse of teeth if you do not wear your rubber band as instructed.
Rubber bands will lose their elasticity and efficacy after six hours of wear; therefore you need to replace them four times a day. We highly encourage the following routine:
Change them after you brush and floss your teeth following each main meal (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and once before you go to bed. If your rubber bands break or you lose them, replace them immediately. You always need to carry a spare pack with you at all times. If you run low on your rubber bands, let us know and we will provide you more.