Elastics

[hcz0307]

How easy have people found elastics (those that have needed them)? Were you able to attach them yourself alright? I need my mum's help at the moment, although I am only 2 weeks post-op.

Also, how often do you remove your elastics? I do to clean my teeth and sometimes to eat (so I am able to lick my lips and make less mess) but were you told otherwise by your ortho? Mine didn't seem very concerned...

Any ideas/suggestion/experiences would be useful!

[Jensen]

I have tried to eat with my elastic but usuailly forget about it and eat it. Have also eaten vax several times Now I take it of every when I eat (not when I drink)

[Sunny]

hcz ... your elastics to keep your post surgical bite in a secure place. You need to talk to your surgeon about when you can remove them, as I'm sure there will be strict rules round this. Patients used to be 'wired shut' post surgery and they couldn't be removed at all ... so elastics have made life a little easier.

Good luck with your recovery going well!

Jensen do you mean wax?

Eating with elastics in place ensures the best movement. If your ortho needs you to achieve this, you will be instructed to keep them on. Swallowing elastics and/or wax has not been recorded as a health risk ... lucky ... a eating with elastics can result in a few being swallowed.

[Sassee]

My Ortho told me to not eat with them in and to replace them every 4 hours or so. Although mine are right in the front so eating with them on is very awkward so I always take them off and then put new ones on when I am done. Other then that they are on there most of the time

[lasvegasann]

I can eat with elastics depending on how they are in my mouth. Most of the time I have to remove them while eating.

[abbaker]

My ortho told me to remove my elastics (meant for aligning my jaw) when I eat. Then again, I'm not getting surgery so your ortho's plan is probably different! I just try to replace them soon after I eat/ brush my teeth, etc.

[hcz0307]

I keep them on if I'm eating soup, but something a bit messier like mashed potato or ice cream needs them removed because I just get it everywhere otherwise. I remove them to brush my teeth (obviously). I wasn't told how often to change them, they said wear them until they break, but all the tomato-ey stuff I eat is turning them orange and it's not pleasant.

[Sunny]

Unless there's a special reason ... our patients are told to wear their elastics when eating, as this is when the most progress will be encouraged.

They are told to replace them when they break, once a day, or if they get stained and that staining can be seen.