Five Helpful Tips for Removing Your Clear Aligners

If you’ve just begun wearing ClearCorrect in Rocky Mount to fix your crooked teeth, you’re probably looking forward to a straighter and more beautiful smile! But in order to achieve these results, it’s important to follow all of the rules and guidelines concerning your treatment. One of these cardinal rules is remembering to remove your trays whenever it’s time to eat—and this is where some patients encounter initial difficulties! Here are five helpful tips to ensure that you’re removing your aligners properly without compromising your treatment.

#1: Stay Calm

You won’t be a master of removing your aligners right off the bat; it’s going to take a little practice to get accustomed to it. But if you’re having trouble at first, it’s important to relax and stay calm. You won’t have better luck if you’re tensed up and stressed out, plus you’ll increase the likelihood of you injuring yourself by accident. If you’re ever feeling flustered while trying to remove your aligners, pause, take a deep breath, and then try again—there’s no need to rush!

#2: Keep Your Mouth Warm

Another thing to keep in mind when removing your aligners is the temperature of your mouth. 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, and also make sure your fingers are warm and dry.

#3: Start from the Back

You might feel inclined to remove your aligners by starting from the front, but you should start with your back teeth instead. Lift the aligners off of your molars on each side, gradually working your way towards the front teeth. Starting from the back teeth greatly minimizes the risk of injury or damage to your aligners.

#4: Change Them in the Evening

Throughout your treatment process, you’ll occasionally have to advance to a new set of aligners to match your teeth’s progress. There are two huge advantages to doing this before bedtime; not only will you sleep through the stage where they feel the tightest, but you’ll also have an easier time removing them in the morning.

#5: Consider Using an Aligner Hook

There are also special tools that are designed to assist you with removing your aligners. Pul Tools and OrthoKeys are two popular options that are widely available through retailers like Amazon. They’re basically small crochet hooks that are designed for your mouth; they can gently hook under the edge of your aligners and safely lift them from your teeth with no mess or hassle.

ClearCorrect is an exciting way to improve your smile, but it’s ultimately dependent on your willingness to do things correctly, especially when it comes to handling your trays. Following these tips will ensure that your trays can do their job and deliver a beautiful smile to you right on schedule.

About the Author

Dr. Kevin Schrimper has over 25 years of experience in dentistry and is proud to serve the needs of patients and families in the Rocky Mount, NC area. Dr. Schrimper received his dental doctorate from the University of North Carolina and is a member of the American Dental Association as well as the North Carolina Dental Society. His practice is pleased to offer many available services including ClearCorrect. If you have any questions about ClearCorrect or would like to schedule a visit, feel free to contact Dr. Schrimper’s practice online or by phone: (252) 937-7878.