How do you take off aligners with attachments?!

[KelahRammy]

Ok so I just got 16 attachments put on (8 lower and 8 upper) and IPR. Thankfully the upper 8 are on the sides, and you can barely see the lower. I cannot take these off. It took me 10 mins to take off the top, and 15 mins to take off the bottom. NO JOKE. It was painful and exhausting. I called the ortho and they told me that if I go tomorrow to see them, they will "adjust" them for me. How will they adjust it? Wow do I really have to go through this much trouble taking off aligners?

[Punkin]

it will get easier. Trust me, it will. I have 13 attachments (7 on top, 6 on bottom); and I can get my aligners on and off without a problem.

What your ortho is most likely going to do is take off some of the attachment; maybe round the edges a bit.

As your teeth adjust to the trays, it gets easier, and then as you continue on with your treatment and your teeth move into their desired positions, removing the aligners becomes much easier.

Try starting at the molars and on the back surface of the tooth; if you can get that off, you then pull them from that side, and toward the front of your mouth to get around the attachments.

Hang in there, and remember, it will get better

[kezzakattami]

I panicked the first time I tried to remove my aligners too. I have 8 attachments on the bottom and even after wearing my last bottom aligner for the last 6 weeks, it still takes me two thumb nails to push the aligner over the attachments!! (I've never had the luxury of lifting my trays off with my tongue, like some people say on here!)

I start at one side, working my way around like punkin says. By the time I get to the front the rest of the aligner usually comes off easy. Try starting with the side with least attachments?

It will be tough at the start of each new set so prepare yourself for that but as you find the best way to work for you, you will find it less of a stress! Good luck - it IS worth the hard work and perseverence

[KelahRammy]

Thank you so much for the advice and motivation. The nurse shaved off a little bit of the attachments and it made the off and on process a little easier, but nothing close to as easy as when I had no attachments. Hopefully they will get easier like you guys have said, we'll see.

[havingitdoneintheuk]

They DO get easier, promise, you will get a technique sussed, we all do it differently, you will wonder what you were struggling with in a couple of weeks!

[KelahRammy]

One of the attachments all the way down my teeth (the last tooth on the right side of my uppers) is really irritating my cheek. It doesn't scratch it when I have the aligners on, but when I'm eating or talking without my aligners on, I can feel the attachment rubbing on my cheek and really doing damage. It's kind of sore and red now, what should I do? Do you think the ortho could soften the attachment so that it doesn't bother my cheek?

Also, my teeth were really crowded and tight together prior to the IPR that the ortho did. Now, I feel like I have a huge hole in the middle of some of my teeth. It's not really that gapped, but I don't have to floss through those areas anymore because food cannot get stuck in between lol. Is this normal? How soon do you think I will see my teeth move into place?

PS I'm on day 8 of 14 for tray 2 out of 30 for upper and lower.

[kezzakattami]

The gaps should close within 2-3 trays, you should see some progress with each tray.

Speak to your Ortho about them filing down that sharp bit of attachment, it shouldnt be that painful

[Punkin]

I remember back at the beginning of the treatment, the attachments would irritate the inside of my mouth; they don't anymore.

Maybe a little dental was on that attachment when you have them out? I'm not sure how that works with eating, tho.

[mommamorin]

kelah, please keep flossing ALL your teeth, even the gapped ones. Flossing removes bacteria as well lodged in food.
I don't know if you're male or female but I am blessed to have hard long nails. I was told in the beginning to cut them as they would make it hard to take the aligners out and I was bummed about having to cut them but it was easier with the nails shorter for some reason. Ortho/dentist will probably take off a smidge of the attachments and/or smooth them down for you.
Taking the aligners off I would take them off on the side of the least amount of buttons and pull from the back molars.
good luck with your treatment.

[Bert524]

I'm rather new to Invisalign (and this forum, so I hope I'm using it correctly!). I noticed in the orthodontist's office everyone wears rubber gloves, so I asked them if I could try a pair. After 20 minutes of trying to get them out of my mouth for the first time, it took me about 2 minutes with the gloves. I bought a box of 100 at the drugstore and they are amazing. I found that when I use them, I have much more "traction" to grab the aligners and pull them out. I had a hard time using my fingernails -- I scratched my gum the one time and had a lot of trouble with my fingernails bending and not helping at all. The gloves did the trick. And, I'm on my second week of my first set of aligners, and it is already getting easier.

[kjac]

the thing that helps me alot is a tool i bought off the internet called the outietool at outietool.com I have no problem getting the trays out now, even when I put in new ones.

[KelahRammy]

thanks again for the advice. I am having a way easier time taking out my aligners now that I have had them on for over a week. Hopefully my next tray wont be as hard in the beginning at the second tray.

I will be buying the outie and will also be using gloves, and I'll let you guys know how they go.