Stay away from DIY orthodontics
There are a lot of DIY videos these days on everything from jewelry making to furniture painting… unfortunately you may also run across some for DIY orthodontics. It seems very tempting to take care of things on your own and avoid those pesky braces, but let me explain why this is notÂrecommended.
Jewelry making and furniture painting are decorative arts, and you are free to practice those as much as you want. Orthodontics (braces) is a health care procedure performed by an orthodontic specialist (orthodontist). An orthodontist has two to three years of specialized education after the four years of general dental education, and their only focus is the health and alignment of your teeth and jaws.
The use of rubber bands recommended on some DIY videos is not only ineffective, but can also be downright dangerous. While you might see some improvement initially, it will most likely lead to problems developing in other parts of your mouth. This would lead to an overall worsening of your situation rather than fixing what you thought was something simple. Worse than that, the elastics can damage the gums and underlying bone that support the teeth, possibly leading to the loss of the teeth themselves!
Please! Leave the tooth movements to the expert… your orthodontist! Believe me, two years of those pesky braces managed by your orthodontist is far superior to a lifetime of dental problems caused by trying to do it yourself.