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.