Rubber bands - how the heck to get them on?

[mbagwell04]

Just got rubber bands with a basic top to bottom configuration but they are so small that I can't put them on with my bare hands. I am using tweezers now, but I don't really want to carry that with me everywhere I go. Please tell me it gets easier!

[djspeece]

It does. You have to show them who's boss, though. Stretch them a bit if you have to. I also found that when placing them over a hook it helped if I aimed a bit farther back than I thought I had to go, it was easier to set the elastic in place. But that's just me.

[Tyrantblade]

Most of them just take some practice, I know this all too well as I have 15 months of elastics/rubber bands experience (as long as ive had braces), and my latest configuration is the worst yet as its Kangaroos which are very thick and tiny with a strong force, and it's on the far left side of my mouth.

[whitney555]

Welcome to the club! It'll soon become second nature to put them on, but it does take a bit of practice. I've only had two configurations, but I've found I can only put them on using the hand opposite the side the elastic is going on. I also always hook it on the tooth that's further back first and then pull it forward to hook the next one. Maybe that'll help you out, but you'll probably just have to play around with it to find what works for you. Good luck!

[Beckett]

I've been wearing elastics for 5 months and I still can't install them without a mirror and that little plastic hook tool.

[Tyrantblade]

I've been wearing elastics for 5 months and I still can't install them without a mirror and that little plastic hook tool.

After a couple months I don't even need the mirror, though it does help with my latest configuration of molar to molar on the far left.

[SingleJawMelb]

I hook it on one hook, stretch it to another hook and play about with it. I don't find them too hard and I've used at least five.