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Do I have to wear elastics?

Many a times the orthodontist advises you to wear some rubber bands. These are called elastics and are meant to deliver forces on the teeth to move them to the desired position.
The orthodontist would advice you on how to wear them.
They are to be removed while eating and replaced with new ones.
Many orthodontists advice fresh elastics every 24 hours.
The elastics come in various sizes and you should wear the ones prescribed by the dentist.
Do not be over enthusiastic and wear more number of elastics. This can harm the teeth. Your orthodontist knows what is best for you.
You can ask the orthodontist for flavored rubber bands.

What happens if i don't change the rubber band?

For one the teeth would stop moving. Thus the duration of the treatment would be prolonged. Old rubber bands also snap off and cause a little pain in the mouth.

What happens if I swallow the rubber band?

Accidental swallowing of a rubber band will not hurt you. They come off the next day in your feces.

Any special oral hygiene procedures during the treatment ?

Regular brushing and flossing should be carried out. Try to brush your tooth after every meal and before sleeping.
The braces trap foodstuff under them and predispose to dental decay and gum problems. Thus good hygiene is a must when the braces are on.
The dentist may prescribe a special orthodontic toothbrush for you.
Fluoridated toothpaste may also be prescribed by your orthodontist to help prevent dental decay.

What are retainers? Once the braces are removed the orthodontist will give you a retainer. A retainer is a removable type of braces that you can remove and replace in the mouth. These should be worn for a few months throughout the day and later for a few hours a day. The orthodontist would advice you on how long you have to wear them.

Why use retainers? One of the greatest challenges faced by the orthodontists is the relapse of treatment. This means that the teeth tend to go back to the original position. This occurs due to a number of factors. This is avoided by wearing the retainers that holds the teeth in the corrected position. The retainers give time for the bone and other tissues around the teeth to adapt to the new position. In case you are too absent minded and tend to loose your retainer or misplace them or forget to wear them you can ask the orthodontist to give you a fixed retainer that you cannot remove. Some patients have to wear the retainer permanently.