5 Helpful Tips for Removing Your Clear Aligners

If you’ve just started Invisalign treatment, you’re probably looking forward to a straighter and prettier smile! However, to achieve these results, it’s crucial that you wear your clear aligners for 22 hours each day. But when it’s time to eat, they must come out—and this might be when you start to run into a little difficulty. You have nothing to worry about though; these five tips will help you remove your clear aligners safely and easily without compromising your treatment.

1. Stay Calm

You aren’t going to be an expert at removing your aligners at first; it will take you a little practice to get used to it. But if you’re having trouble initially, it’s important to relax and stay calm. Tensing up and stressing yourself out will only make things more difficult and also increases the likelihood of you accidentally hurting yourself. If you’re feeling a little flustered, pause and take a deep breath, then try again—there’s no need to rush!

2. Keep Your Mouth Warm

Who doesn’t love an ice-cold glass of water after being out in the heat? Even though cold drinks are great for cooling off, they can cool your mouth to the point where it becomes difficult to remove your aligners. If your mouth is warm, the plastic of your aligners will feel more flexible and easier to manipulate. Consider drinking lukewarm water to warm up your mouth before attempting to remove your aligners. Make sure your fingers are also warm and dry.

3. Start from the Back

You might be tempted to start from the front, but you should begin removing your aligners by lifting them off your molars on each side first, gradually working your way towards the front. You can also start on one side and work your way towards the other. It’s a matter of finding a method that works for you and sticking with it; however, starting from the back greatly minimizes the risk of injury or damage to your aligners.

4. Consider Using an Aligner Hook

There are special tools designed to assist you with the removal of your aligners. For example, Pul Tools and OrthoKeys are very effective and widely available through many retailers, including Amazon. They’re like small crochet hooks that are designed for your mouth; they can gently hook under the edge of your aligners and lift them from your teeth, with no mess or hassle.

5. Change Your Aligners in The Evening

Occasionally throughout your treatment process, you will have to swap to a new set of aligners. There are two huge benefits to doing this at nighttime: you will sleep through the initial stage where they feel the tightest and most uncomfortable, and you will have an easier time removing them in the morning after your teeth have shifted throughout the night.

Invisalign is a very exciting way to correct your smile, mainly due to the treatment’s convenience and subtlety. Keep these tips in mind when it’s time to remove your aligners to ensure a smooth overall experience.

About the Practice

Wethersfield Dental Group is proud to serve patients and families in the area under the leadership of Dr. Ukti Phadnis! Dr. Phadnis received her dental doctorate from the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine and is a member of many professional organizations including the American Dental Association, the Hartford Dental Society, and the Connecticut State Dental Association. Her practice offers a wide variety of services including Invisalign! Feel free to schedule an appointment online or by phone: (860) 400-3007.