Tips

[vanquish]

I got my first set of aligners in today and right after my appointment, I went out for breakfest with a couple buddies. I went to the washroom to take them off, and it took me about 15 minutes to do so, as well as some bleeding from my lip and teeth.

I am trying to gain weight as I am a bit under what I would like to be, and I've looked in the fridge about 3 times today and did not eat because I was too afraid to take the aligners out.

Can anyone give me tips/advice on how to take them out without a hassle/pain, because instead of eating more like I should be, I'm eating much less because of the pain of taking them out... when I'm in the process of taking them out, it feels like im gona take out a few teeth along the way :|

Thanks for any help

[mariahfromchicago]

there are tools made for that purpose. Search aligned removal tool?

[vanquish]

I already did, it's just a hook. The problem for me isn't getting a good grip on the aligners, its when I try to pull the aligners out, it feels like I'm pulling a couple teeth out with the aligner... and those teeth start to bleed a bit.

maybe its because they're still very tight, it's my first day...?

[Zoso]

Unless there's something incredibly bad going on in your mouth, you're not going to pull teeth out, so don't worry. I do wonder though about the bleeding gums - do they bleed when you brush? If so, you've probably got a bit of mild gum disease going on and should consider having a dentist check that out.

The pain on removing the aligners should indeed diminish as your teeth start to move with the aligners. Hang in there.

[vanquish]

Hopefuly. Thats also what I read; that in a couple of days once the teeth have shifted a little bit, it should be easier to remove the aligner. But until then, I cant limit myself to eating twice a day because it's impossible to remove the aligners...

[Punkin]

Originally Posted by vanquish

I already did, it's just a hook. The problem for me isn't getting a good grip on the aligners, its when I try to pull the aligners out, it feels like I'm pulling a couple teeth out with the aligner... and those teeth start to bleed a bit.

maybe its because they're still very tight, it's my first day...?

Most likely it's because they are tight; it will get better as time goes on; although each new set of aligners brings the same issues. Honestly, there have only been a few sets of aligners that have caused me any problems past the first day.

I've found that hook thing to not help one bit, and I'm not even sure where mine are anymore. I have a method to get them out, and it works. What happened to me recently is that I fractured my left arm, and I've always used my left hand to remove my aligners. I have to change how I do things, and it's been very difficult. I'm supposed to put in new trays this weekend, and am NOT looking foward to it

[vanquish]

hehe yeah I know what you mean. I never look forward to breakfest, lunch and dinner :P
Whats this method you used?

[Zoso]

If the little hook tool doesn't help you, I've heard of some people using a washcloth/flannel to help grip the edge of the aligner - would allow you to grasp in more than one place at once.

[nan]

Ugh. Sorry you're having such a hard time with them. The first couple of days when I first started was hard, too. I lost 5lbs in that week!

Something that might help is to not keep your finger nails too short. That will give you some leverage. My ortho gave me some kind of hook thing too and it never worked for me. The more you wear them the easier they are to get off. One thing my ortho told me to do was to bite down and hold for about 10 seconds. That helped align them and I think it made it easier to take off. In the future, you may want to put your new aligners in the night before the change day. I always put mine in a couple of hours before I go to bed and that seems to help for some odd reason.

Good luck. It does get easier. And if the bleeding continues, definitely call your ortho.

[Punkin]

Originally Posted by vanquish

hehe yeah I know what you mean. I never look forward to breakfest, lunch and dinner :P
Whats this method you used?

I just grab them at the molar and pull down and out (toward the front of my mouth).

In the beginning I had to make sure they were dry and that my hands were dry, so I kept a paper towel handy, but that isn't the case as much anymore.

Keep it up, it gets better

[Punkin]

Originally Posted by nan

Ugh. Sorry you're having such a hard time with them. The first couple of days when I first started was hard, too. I lost 5lbs in that week!

Something that might help is to not keep your finger nails too short. That will give you some leverage. My ortho gave me some kind of hook thing too and it never worked for me. The more you wear them the easier they are to get off. One thing my ortho told me to do was to bite down and hold for about 10 seconds. That helped align them and I think it made it easier to take off. In the future, you may want to put your new aligners in the night before the change day. I always put mine in a couple of hours before I go to bed and that seems to help for some odd reason.

Good luck. It does get easier. And if the bleeding continues, definitely call your ortho.

I put them in before I go to bed as well; and yea, it has been easier. I think it gives you more uninterrupted time for your teeth to adjust.