Instructions to Wear and Remove Clear Aligners
After the orthodontist’s demonstration on how to wear and remove your clear aligners. It is now patients’ turn to do it by themselves! You must place the first aligner on its respective arch and lightly bite on it to allow it to fit around your teeth. The moment aligners slide into their position, you will feel an immediate tightness around your teeth. This uncomfortable feeling will go away once you get used to your aligners.
Now, wear the other tray of the set in the same way. You can also use aligners chewies to wear your aligner trays. These chewie’s are basically soft plastic tubes that patients need to chew on after inserting aligners. They are available in different colors and allow aligners to fit around your teeth and settle properly.
Once the patient’s aligners are worn, get used to how they fit and where the aligner’s margins are. This will help when you need to remove them. Find a spot around the clear aligner margins near your back teeth and lightly tug on to it. This will lift the aligners from the back teeth and loosen them up over your front teeth, making them easy to remove. Practice this a few times in the presence of orthodontists in order to gain confidence in doing it yourself at home.
Your first set of aligner trays is usually zero-degree aligners, which means that they are not meant to bring about movement. They are mainly given to let you get used to the trays and allow you to get comfortable in lifestyle with them.
Your orthodontist will give you a set of instructions to follow during your clear aligner treatment. These include:
- Each set of trays that are given to you needs to be worn for a minimum of 22 hours each day, which is the standard time recommended for most patients. In some cases, the orthodontist may advise the patient to wear the clear aligner trays only during the day or only at night time.
- It is okay for the aligners to feel tight and feel the pressure of the aligners on your teeth. This indicates that your aligners are snuggly fit around your teeth to cause their movement.
- You must remove your aligners while eating and avoid drinking anything too hot or cold as extreme temperature changes can warp the trays.
- Since the aligners can be removed during eating and drinking, it is recommended to brush and floss before wearing them back again. This is one of the biggest advantages of fixed braces!
- You may notice yourself talking with a lisp in the initial days after wearing aligners. Don’t worry! This lisp is temporary and will go away as soon as your tongue gets used to the aligners.
- Since the trays are an artificial material in your mouth, you may experience excessive salivation but this is your body’s normal reaction to something foreign in the mouth.
- Some people might experience the very opposite i.e. dryness in the mouth. Drink plenty of water and allow your body to accept the aligners.
- Whenever you remove your aligners, remember to clean them with regular running water and store them dry in the box given with them. This ensures your aligners are not lost or broken.
- You can clean your aligners with a toothbrush but avoid brushing too hard.
- Whenever you visit your doctor, always carry the previous aligner set with you.
- Wear each set of aligner trays as directed by your orthodontist in order to get your treatment completed in the set time frame. Using your discretion in wearing the trays can interfere with the progress of your treatment.
First Few Days of Wearing Clear Aligners
In the first few days after wearing your first set of aligner trays, patients face many problems. Some of these include:-
- Excessive tightness around their teeth causes pain
- Uncomfortable feeling in the mouth
- Excessive salivation
- Dryness in the mouth
- Difficulty in speaking or inability to say few syllables(lisp)
- Difficulty in wearing and removing the trays
No matter which of these problems you face with your aligners, always remember that all these are temporary problems and are easily solvable. In case of any doubt, you must always consult with your orthodontist.
Aligners are the best replacement for metallic wired braces as it uses the latest technology to straighten your teeth. No matter which kind of correction your teeth require to make them perfect, aligners can be worn by anyone. Aligners are a pair of clear plastic trays made up of polyurethane that fit your teeth without any pain and irritation except for the initial days when you start using them.
The use of aligners is becoming more and more popular day by day, especially among teens and adults as they are virtually invisible. Therefore, it is very important to have proper knowledge of ‘How to Wear Clear Aligners?’. So, here we are sharing some basic techniques and procedures which could help you in wearing aligners.
Guideline to Wear Aligners
Read the below instructions carefully:
Your teeth and aligners should be cleaned before wearing them into your mouth.
Make sure your hands are also clean before handling the aligners.
Aligners are worn for 20-22 hours a day.
One pair of aligners must be worn for 2 weeks only and then use the next pair of aligners in the right order.
How to Wear Clear Aligners
- Now, as aligners come in pairs, you have to wear them one by one. You may put any of the aligners first followed by the other tray of the aligner.
- Gently insert the aligners one at a time and push the tray softly onto your teeth.
- You will hear a snap or click sound indicating the aligner is seated completely.
- In case attachments have been placed on the tooth, the aligners should be carefully placed. Seat the aligner on the front teeth first and then gradually seat it on the back teeth.
- Remove your aligners when you are eating, drinking (hot beverages), smoking, etc. with the help of the tool, which comes with the starter kit.
- Don’t touch or pinch the aligners too much if they are not fitting properly. Talk to your dentist/orthodontist.
- Store the aligners in the carry case only if you are not wearing them. Always carry the case when you are going out for dinner, a party or outdoor activity. Mostly aligner users damage their aligners by keeping them in a bag or anywhere else casually.
- Keep the aligners away from pets and kids.