5 Tips to Make Taking Out Your Aligners Easier

It’s been a few hours since you’ve left your orthodontist’s office with your brand-new clear aligners. You are excited about treatment, but you are also getting hungry. It’s time for you to take out your aligners for the first time on your own.

However, these plastic devices are purposefully tight against your teeth, which means removing them won’t be easy, particularly at the beginning of treatment. Here are five tips to help you learn this process as quickly as possible.

Have a Dry Mouth and Hands

Taking out clear aligners can be tricky enough; having slick saliva on your aligners or wet hands will only complicate it more. Before you take out your aligners, make sure your hands are clean and dry. To reduce the moisture in your mouth, keep it open for 10 seconds, and then you should find the task of removing your aligners less cumbersome.

Use Clear Aligner Tools

A quick search on Amazon will result in tons of products that can make it easier to take out and care for your aligners. Depending on how difficult or time consuming removal is for you, purchasing a supplementary tool may be very worthwhile.

Get a Grip with a Paper Towel or Gloves

If you struggle to hold onto the smooth aligners, you have a couple of options. You may use a paper towel to dry them off and make it easier to grip the plastic. Thin, rubber gloves—like the ones your dentist uses—are also helpful to establish a firm grasp on the aligners.

Don’t Remove Aligners After a Cool Drink of Water

In case you don’t remember learning this concept in science class, let’s review a basic principle. Most substances, when subjected to colder temperatures, tend to contract and get harder. The clear plastic of your aligner becomes less flexible and, therefore, more challenging to take out right after being exposed to a cold drink of water. As a result, you may want to wait a while after having a drink to remove your aligners.

Give It Time and Relax

Last, but certainly not least, you need to be patient and calm when you first get clear aligners. It will take time to get used to removing them at first. If you can’t manage after several tries, it may be beneficial to stop, take a break and relax, and try again in 30 minutes or so.

In addition, when you switch to the next set, your aligners will fit tightly and be more difficult to take out. That’s why many orthodontists recommend making the change to the new set right before going to bed. Ideally, your teeth should shift and become used to the aligners overnight and make removal in the morning easier.

If you follow these tips, getting used to wearing and taking out your aligners shouldn’t take too long. With a little practice and the right methods, you can still enjoy eating while you straighten your teeth. And, if all else fails, you can talk to your orthodontist and ask for advice or guidance!

About the Practice

Chicago Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics is proud to offer a full menu of orthodontic services, including multiple options for clear aligners. Depending on your needs, we may determine to use Invisalign or our very own fabricated aligner system. To learn more about straightening your teeth with clear aligners, please contact our team online or by calling to schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified orthodontists.