Since you're supposed to wear your Invisalign aligners for 22 hours per day, you'll become quite skilled at efficiently removing those trays as quickly as possible. You only get brief windows each day when you won't be wearing your aligners, and every minute counts—unless you plan to treat each meal like a speed eating competition. It can be frustrating when your aligners are uncooperative. What should you do when it becomes difficult to remove and reinsert your aligner trays?

The Fit of Your Aligner Trays

It's unlikely to be an error with the fit of the aligners. Just remember the extensive measurements and digital modeling that was performed in order to create your trays—and of course, they were made exclusively for you. The aligner trays must fit (very) tightly over your upper and lower dental arches. That tight fit is necessary for each tray to exert the required force on your teeth to allow them to gradually reposition themselves. The trouble is that your trays might feel a little bit too tight when you're trying to put them on or remove them. 

Heat Damage

Consider the possibility that your trays have become warped. Were they placed next to a heat source during the brief period when you took them out to eat something? Or perhaps you unwisely drank a hot beverage while wearing your trays? Your trays are thermoplastic—allowing them to be necessarily moldable at a sufficient temperature. They might have become moldable again due to exposure to heat. Consult your orthodontist. You may be advised to disregard the current warped tray and move ahead to the next in the series, but this depends on how many days you were wearing them before they became damaged.

Accessories for Your Aligners

If there isn't any heat damage, it can be that you just need a little help with inserting and removing your trays. Talk to your orthodontist about accessories for your aligner trays. Seaters are small silicone blocks that you bite down on after placing the tray onto your teeth. They help to gently force the trays into position. You may also need a removal tool, which is a small implement designed to hook onto the edge of the tray for quick and safe removal. The principle of these tools is simple enough, but don't attempt to improvise your own version using household items. You can easily damage your teeth and gums, not to mention your trays.

If you have difficulties inserting and removing your trays, you need to rule out any damage to the trays themselves. But when you just need some assistance to get the job done, there are approved accessories for this specific purpose.