How to Easily Remove Clear Aligners

Despite their removability, Invisalign aligners are sometimes hard to take off. They fit over your teeth so nicely that getting a grip on them can be tricky! You might feel like they’ll be stuck on your teeth forever. Fortunately, removing clear aligners doesn’t have to be that difficult. To help you out, here are some tips on how you can manage it easily!

Don’t Bend Your Trays

Whenever you try to remove your aligners, make sure not to bend them. Doing so will only cause them to wear down in certain spots and lead to breaks. Of course, this would reduce overall treatment effectiveness.

Instead, keep the aligners as straight as possible as you remove them to avoid damaging them.

Wash Your Hands

Washing your hands before taking off your trays has multiple benefits. Firstly, it eliminates finger bacteria that would otherwise touch your teeth during the removal process. Furthermore, wetting and drying your hands could allow you to get a firmer grip on the trays to effectively get them off.

Start from the Back Teeth

You may be better off removing the aligners from your back teeth rather than the front.

You could start by lifting them off the molars on each side and progressing towards the front. Others find it easier to work from one side of the mouth to the other — left-to-right or right-to-left. Feel free to choose the method that works best for you.

If your aligners have attachments, start by lifting off the easier parts and saving the rest for later. Then, hook your fingernails under the aligner’s edge and lift it up and over the attachment.

Try an Aligner Hook

Over-the-counter aligner hooks, including brands like Pul Tools and OrthoKeys, are pretty effective for aligner removal. Plus, many kinds are available through online retailers like Amazon.

Similar to a crochet hook in appearance, aligner hooks are designed to get under the tray’s edge and lift it away from your teeth. They’re especially helpful for people with attachments.

Change Them in the Evening

When you get new aligning trays, they will likely be a tight, uncomfortable fit. However, putting them in before bed will let you sleep through most of the adjustment process. More importantly, your teeth will have shifted by morning, meaning the aligners will be easier to remove. After taking a mild painkiller, putting them in at night is a suitable method to make the transition easier.

Something like stuck trays shouldn’t ruin your Invisalign experience. Let the tips above simplify the journey to your straighter smile!

About the Practice

Bluff Creek Dental is based in Edmond, OK. Led by Dr. Patrick Crowley, their team is equipped with the latest dental technology to provide efficient dentistry for all ages. For treatment, they take a slow, personalized approach to ensure patients receive ideal results. Their services span preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry — even Invisalign! For more information or to book an appointment, they can be reached at their website or by phone at (405)-751-5515.