SHIFTING YOUR SMILE CENTER: WHO'S USING ELASTICS VS. SPRINGS?

I totally get the elastics struggle -

they snap all the time and I keep losing them in my lunch (gross, sorry)

Comfort-wise, elastics win, but only if you’re good at keeping up with them. Springs were a little annoying at first but I got used to them. Never had a horror story, but once an elastic snapped mid-yawn and almost took my eye out. Not fun.

Totally relate to the elastic-in-lunch thing... mine always seemed to vanish during meals, and I’d find them in the weirdest places. Springs felt like having a tiny trampoline in my mouth, but at least I didn’t have to think about them all day. Did you ever get those little sore spots where the spring rubbed your cheek? I had that for a week or two but it faded. Honestly, I was way worse at remembering elastics than I thought I’d be - was anyone else surprised how much discipline it takes?

Funny thing, I thought springs would be the worst part, but those elastics were my real nemesis. I’d swear I’d put one in after lunch, then find it stuck to my sleeve or in my pocket hours later… no clue how it got there. The discipline bit totally caught me off guard too - I figured, “How hard can it be?” Turns out, very. Ended up setting reminders on my phone just to keep up.

About the sore spots from springs, yeah, I had a couple of rough weeks where it felt like my cheek was at war with the hardware. Wax helped a bit, but honestly, I mostly just toughed it out. Eventually my mouth seemed to toughen up - guess it’s true what they say about getting used to anything if you have to.

Never realized how much mental energy goes into orthodontics until I was in the thick of it. Makes me wonder how kids manage it better than adults sometimes... maybe they're just more adaptable?

Makes me wonder how kids manage it better than adults sometimes... maybe they're just more adaptable?

I can relate to the mental load - keeping up with elastics honestly felt like a full-time job. I ended up stashing extra packs everywhere: car, desk, even my jacket pockets. Springs hurt at first, but once that initial soreness faded, they were pretty much “set it and forget it.” Elastics, on the other hand, made me self-conscious about talking and eating, since I was always worried about one snapping mid-sentence. For me, springs were less hassle in the long run, but I think it really depends on how much you can tolerate the early discomfort versus the ongoing responsibility of elastics. The speed of results felt similar either way, though my ortho said compliance (or lack thereof) with elastics can slow things down.

Totally get what you mean about the mental load with elastics. I’m just starting out and already feel like I need a system to keep track of them - maybe a spreadsheet, ha. Springs sound rough at first, but I like the idea of not having to think about them all day. I guess it’s a trade-off between a short burst of pain and constant little annoyances. Your tip about stashing elastics everywhere is smart, though... I might have to borrow that one.

I’m just starting out and already feel like I need a system to keep track of them - maybe a spreadsheet, ha.

That’s actually not a bad idea. My kid’s been on elastics for a few months and I swear, half my brain is just trying to remember if we changed them after dinner or not. Do you find your orthodontist was clear about how often to switch them? We got told “after every meal,” but sometimes it feels like overkill, and then I start worrying we’re not doing enough.

About springs - I keep hearing people say they’re less to think about, but does anyone know if they hurt more at the start? My daughter’s pretty anxious about pain, so I’m torn between sticking with the elastics (even though it’s a hassle) or asking if springs might be better for her sanity. Have any of you switched from elastics to springs mid-treatment? If so, did it mess up the timeline at all?

And yeah, we’ve got elastics in every bag and coat pocket at this point... still manage to run out when we’re out and about, though.

- Elastics definitely require more discipline, but honestly, they’re more adaptable than springs. Springs are fixed in place, so once they’re on, there’s no “forgetting” - but that also means you can’t take them out if there’s discomfort or eating issues.

- Pain-wise, springs can be rough at first. Most kids report a few days of soreness, sometimes more intense than elastics since the force is continuous and you don’t get a break. With elastics, if it gets too much, you can at least remove them briefly (though not ideal for treatment).

- Switching from elastics to springs mid-treatment isn’t always straightforward. It can change the mechanics and might even extend the timeline if the teeth need to adjust to a new type of force. I’ve seen cases where it slowed things down a bit.

- The “after every meal” advice is pretty standard, but some orthodontists say twice a day is enough depending on the strength of the elastic and the treatment plan. If you’re unsure, it’s worth double-checking - sometimes they default to the strictest schedule just to cover all bases.

- We’ve had the same issue with running out - stash them everywhere, still manage to run out at the worst times... Murphy’s law of orthodontics, I guess.

Springs are fixed in place, so once they’re on, there’s no “forgetting” - but that also means you can’t take them out if there’s discomfort or eating issues.

That’s actually why I dreaded the idea of springs for my daughter - she’s super sensitive to pressure and hates not being able to “escape” the hardware for a bit. The elastics are annoying, but at least she gets a break during meals. Curious if anyone else noticed certain foods making spring discomfort worse? We found chewy stuff made her soreness linger a lot longer...

she’s super sensitive to pressure and hates not being able to “escape” the hardware for a bit.

That’s totally relatable - my youngest had springs and she really struggled with that “trapped” feeling too. Chewy foods were definitely the worst for her, especially bagels or anything sticky. We ended up sticking to softer stuff, even if it got repetitive. I will say, once she adjusted, the soreness wasn’t as constant, but those first few weeks were rough. Elastics seem a bit more forgiving in that sense, even if they’re a pain to remember.

I totally get the “trapped” feeling - my daughter had coil springs and it was like she couldn’t ever relax her jaw. She hated that there was no way to take a break, even for a minute. Honestly, elastics are annoying to remember, but at least you can pop them out for eating and give your mouth a breather. Springs just felt relentless in comparison...

Springs are just... a whole different beast. I remember when my nephew had them, he looked like he was plotting revenge on his orthodontist every time he tried to talk. The poor kid couldn’t even yawn without wincing. I’ve done the elastics thing myself, and while yeah, they’re a pain to remember (I found them in every jacket pocket for months), at least you get that tiny bit of freedom at mealtimes. Springs just sit there, like, “Nope, you’re not getting off that easy.”

One thing I noticed - my nephew’s speech got all weird for a while with the springs. He started mumbling like he was in some secret club. Elastics never messed with my talking that much, just made me sound a little snappier when I forgot to take them out. Springs are relentless, but elastics are sneaky - you forget them, and suddenly you’re back at square one. Honestly, neither is exactly a picnic, but if I had to pick, I’ll take the removable annoyance over the 24/7 jaw clamp any day.

That’s an interesting point about speech - I've seen that too. Springs can really mess with the way you talk, especially early on. Elastics get annoying, sure, but at least you can take them out for a bit of relief. Springs just don’t let up.

“Springs just sit there, like, ‘Nope, you’re not getting off that easy.’”

Honestly, I’ve noticed some patients adapt faster than others. A few barely mention the springs after the first week, while others are miserable the whole time. Seems like it’s not just about the appliance itself but how sensitive your mouth is - or maybe it’s a patience thing?

Curious if anyone found one actually worked faster or felt more effective in the long run? I see a lot of mixed results with compliance on elastics vs. the “set it and forget it” nature of springs.

I’ve always thought springs were like the “set it and forget it” crockpot of orthodontics - just working away whether you want them to or not. Elastics, on the other hand, are more like that gym membership you keep meaning to use... but don’t always remember. I’ve seen some folks breeze through springs after a few days, but others get super frustrated, especially with speech. As for which works faster? Honestly, I’ve seen both sides - some people swear the springs moved things quicker, others felt elastics did the trick just as well. Guess it really does depend on how your mouth handles it and how diligent you are with elastics.

Elastics, on the other hand, are more like that gym membership you keep meaning to use... but don’t always remember.

That’s honestly the most accurate description I’ve seen for elastics. I was told to wear mine “24/7 except for eating,” and let’s just say my compliance was... aspirational. Springs were way easier for me - once they were in, I just had to deal with the weird pressure and that slight whistling sound when I talked. The elastics, though, felt like a daily test of my memory.

I had a friend who swore her teeth moved way faster with elastics, but she was super disciplined (like, alarm-on-her-phone disciplined). For me, springs did the trick, but I did have a bit of a lisp for a week or two. Not ideal during work meetings, but you get used to it.

Honestly, I think you nailed it - it’s all about what your mouth can handle and how good you are at following instructions. There isn’t really a magic bullet. If you’re struggling with either, don’t beat yourself up. It’s not easy, but it does get better with time.

Funny, my kid actually found elastics way easier than springs. I thought for sure she’d forget them all the time, but it became part of her routine - like brushing her teeth. The springs, on the other hand, bugged her so much she’d count down the days until they came out. Maybe it’s an age thing or just personal preference? Either way, I wouldn’t say elastics are always harder... depends on the person (or maybe how stubborn your kid is).

Funny, my wallet definitely preferred elastics - those springs seemed to come with extra visits and fees. My kid grumbled about both, but at least elastics didn’t poke her cheeks. Maybe springs just aren’t worth the hassle for some of us...

at least elastics didn’t poke her cheeks. Maybe springs just aren’t worth the hassle for some of us...

It’s wild how much those little differences matter, right? Did your kid ever get those random sore spots from the springs? I remember my niece complaining about them catching on her mouth, and it was a whole production getting wax in the right spot. Elastics seemed like less drama, but they snapped on her at the worst times. Did you find the extra visits with springs actually helped, or did it just feel like more bills?

Elastics seemed like less drama, but they snapped on her at the worst times. Did you find the extra visits with springs actually helped, or did it just feel like more bills?

That’s exactly what stressed me out with my son’s braces - the springs just seemed to cause more issues than they solved for us. He’d get these sore spots near his cheeks, and I was constantly worried he’d end up with an ulcer or something worse. The wax helped a little, but half the time it fell off before school was even over. And yeah, those extra ortho visits…it felt like every time we got used to the routine, there’d be another appointment (and another copay).

Elastics snapped a lot too, but at least they didn’t poke him in the middle of the night. I know springs can work faster for some cases, but honestly, my anxiety was through the roof every time he said something hurt. If I had to do it again, I think I’d push for just elastics unless there was a really strong reason.

It’s wild how much these tiny parts make such a big difference in comfort - and peace of mind.

I get where you’re coming from, but I actually had the opposite experience with my daughter. The springs were a hassle at first, but her ortho explained that they’d move her teeth faster than elastics for her specific bite. She did have some discomfort in the beginning, but after a week or two she barely noticed them. The extra visits felt like a pain, but honestly, they caught a couple issues early - like a bracket that came loose - so I think they were worth it in our case. Elastics just didn’t give us the same results, and she kept forgetting to put them back in after lunch anyway... which dragged things out. Every kid’s different though.