You’re not alone if you feel frustrated with crooked, overcrowded, or gapped teeth. Hundreds of thousands of patients have turned to clear aligners, like CandidPro, to straighten their smiles more discreetly than with traditional braces.
These transparent plastic trays are designed to fit snugly over your arches to gently shift your pearly whites to their ideal places. However, you must remove the aligners twice daily to wash them and to brush and floss your teeth. If you’re struggling to take them out, continue reading for 3 tips that can help!
Tip #1: Start in the Back
Your clear aligners are meant to fit tightly enough over your teeth that they exert enough pressure to move them. You might find that they’re so snug that it’s difficult to pry them off. It’s natural to think the simplest way is by removing them from the front teeth first, but that’s not necessarily the case. Your molars have a larger surface area that can anchor your trays in place if you begin this way.
Instead, try placing your fingertip on the inside of your farthest molar, and gently pull it away from your tooth to break its tight seal. Then, do the same on the other side, and slowly work your way forward until the tray comes free.
Tip #2: Avoid Cold Drinks
Cold tends to cause materials to retract, meaning they can shrink when the temperature drops. As a result, many patients believe that drinking something cold before removing their CandidPro causes the plastic to cling to their teeth.
You might think consuming something hot would expand the material enough for it to slip off your arches, but heat can warp the plastic so that it no longer fits correctly. Instead of consuming something warm, maybe avoid drinking anything too icy until after you’ve taken your aligners off your teeth.
Tip #3: Dry Your Mouth
Saliva is your mouth’s natural defense against common dental problems because it rinses away germs, leftover food, and other debris. It also has a nearly neutral pH balance to counter potential acid damage from the foods you eat to protect your enamel.
However, if you’re reaching into a wet mouth to try to pry the plastic trays free, your fingers are likely to slip. You might even accidentally gouge the plastic material with your fingernails or cut the tender tissues inside your mouth. To avoid this, try opening your arches wide to allow your oral cavity to dry out slightly so you can grasp the smooth material more easily.
If you’re still struggling to remove your CandidPro after trying these tips, then it may be time to contact your dentist for some additional tips, tricks, or assistance!
Meet the Author
Dr. Steve Cha strives to provide quality services to help families in McKinney build and maintain happy, healthy smiles. He earned his dental degree from the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry and has additional certifications from the American Orthodontic Society and the Advanced Dental Implant Research & Education Center. Today, he offers a comprehensive menu of treatments to meet all your needs at one convenient location, including CandidPro clear aligners. You can request an appointment on the website or by calling (972) 529-1800.