Elastics (rubber bands) are sometimes prescribed during clear aligner treatment to help guide your bite and jaw relationship. If your treatment plan includes elastics, wearing them correctly and consistently is important for effective progress.
Below is a simple step-by-step guide on how to wear elastics with clear aligners.
Why Are Elastics Used With Clear Aligners?
Elastics help by connecting your upper and lower jaw movement. They support specific tooth and bite movements that aligners alone may not fully achieve.
How Often Should You Wear and Change Elastics?
For best results:
- Wear your elastics as much as possible (as instructed by your dentist)
- Change your elastics once a day
- A simple routine is to change them every night after brushing your teeth
Consistency matters — the more reliably you wear them, the more predictable your progress will be.
Tips Before You Start
Wearing elastics is a skill that takes a little time to master. In the beginning, it’s normal if it feels tricky.
Helpful tip:
- Take short breaks while you’re learning, and try again calmly
Before putting your aligners in:
- Gently bend the hooks out slightly to make it easier for the elastics to catch
Step-by-Step: How to Put On Your Elastics
- Pinch the elastic using your index finger and thumb
- Find the back hook (usually on the back tooth area)
- Rub the elastic gently against the back hook until it catches
- Close your mouth and pull the elastic down or up toward the front hook
- Press your finger against the front hook, then release the elastic so it catches securely
Important Note: Hook Positions May Differ
Your elastic hooks may be placed differently from what you see in videos or demonstrations.
Before you start, always:
- Check your aligners to locate your exact hook positions
In Summary
- Elastics help guide upper and lower jaw movement and support bite correction during clear aligner treatment.
- Wear elastics as much as possible and change them once daily (commonly at night after brushing).
- Expect a short learning curve — it gets easier with practice.
- Bend hooks slightly outward before inserting aligners to help elastics catch.
- Follow the step-by-step method to attach elastics securely, and confirm your hook positions first.