Tag: aligner chewies

If you’re using clear aligners, you’ve probably heard about Invisalign chewies. These small, cylindrical accessories may look simple, but they play a surprisingly important role in your treatment. 

Let’s explore what they are, how they work, and whether they’re actually necessary for your aligner journey.

What Exactly Are Invisalign Chewies?

Invisalign chewies are soft, spongy cylinders made from a medical-grade plastic material called Styrene Copolymer. They’re roughly the size of a cotton roll and designed to be bitten down on repeatedly to help seat your aligners properly against your teeth.

The concept is straightforward: by biting down on the chewie and moving it around your mouth, you create even pressure that helps eliminate air gaps between your aligner and teeth. This ensures your aligners fit snugly and apply the correct force to move your teeth as planned.

How Do Chewies Work With Clear Aligners?

Chewies work through controlled compression. After inserting your aligners, small air pockets often remain between the plastic and your tooth surface. These gaps prevent your aligners from applying the precise pressure needed for tooth movement.

By chewing on these accessories for a few minutes, you compress the aligner material against your teeth. This process pushes out trapped air, creating full contact between the aligner and tooth surfaces. The result is better tracking, which means your teeth move according to your treatment plan rather than lagging behind schedule.

Do Chewies Really Help Invisalign Treatment?

Yes, chewies genuinely improve aligner effectiveness. Proper aligner fit is essential for successful treatment outcomes. Studies on clear aligner therapy consistently show that optimal tooth movement requires complete aligner-tooth contact.

Without proper seating, your aligners may not track correctly. This can lead to gaps forming, extended treatment times, or the need for additional refinement trays. Many orthodontists recommend chewies specifically because they’ve observed better treatment outcomes in patients who use them consistently.

Read more: Do Clear Aligners Hurt? What to Expect in the First Few Days

The Benefits of Using Aligner Chewies

Using chewies regularly throughout your treatment offers several advantages:

• Improved aligner fit: Chewies eliminate gaps and ensure your aligners sit flush against your teeth, maximising the effectiveness of each tray.
• Faster treatment progress: Better-fitting aligners mean more predictable tooth movement and fewer setbacks that could extend your treatment timeline.
• Reduced discomfort: Properly seated aligners distribute pressure more evenly across your teeth, which can actually make them more comfortable to wear.
• Prevention of tracking issues: Regular use helps prevent your aligners from becoming loose or failing to move your teeth as designed.
• Cost savings: By keeping your treatment on track, you may avoid the expense and inconvenience of needing additional refinement trays.

How to Use Invisalign Chewies Correctly

Using chewies is simple, but technique matters. Here’s the proper method:

1. Insert your aligners as usual, pressing them into place with your fingers
2. Take a chewie and place it between your teeth
3. Bite down gently but firmly for about 5-10 seconds
4. Move the chewie to a different position along your arch
5. Repeat this process for all areas of your mouth, spending extra time on any spots that feel loose
6. Use chewies for 5-10 minutes total each time you reinsert your aligners

Most orthodontists recommend using chewies every time you put your aligners back in after eating or cleaning them. This typically means three to five times daily.

Building Your Complete Invisalign Accessory Kit

Chewies work best as part of a complete accessory system that supports your entire treatment journey. Each tool serves a specific purpose, and together they help ensure your aligners stay clean, fit properly, and deliver the results you want.

Your core accessory kit should include chewies for proper seating, removal tools to remove tight aligners without damaging them, and a protective case to keep your aligners safe when eating. Cleaning products like specialised tablets or crystals keep your aligners hygienic and clear throughout each wear cycle.

Here’s how these accessories work together throughout your day:

Read more: Invisalign for Adults: Why Your 30s and 40s Are Perfect for Clear Aligners

What Happens If You Don’t Use Invisalign Chewies?

Skipping chewies isn’t necessarily a treatment-ending issue, but it can allow problems to creep in. In some cases, your aligners may not seat properly, leaving small gaps between the plastic and your teeth.

These gaps prevent the aligners from applying the correct pressure to move your teeth. Over time, this can cause your teeth to track poorly, meaning they don’t move as planned. You may notice that your aligners feel loose, are not fitting properly, or find that your teeth aren’t shifting on schedule. In some cases, poor tracking requires additional trays or extended treatment time to correct.

Obviously, it all depends on the individual, and no two cases are the same. However, these little accessories go a long way towards preventing further refinements and reducing treatment time. 

Can You Use Something Else Instead of Chewies?

Some people ask about alternatives to official chewies. While nothing works quite as well, a few substitutes exist in a pinch.

Clean paper towels folded several times can provide some seating pressure, though they lack the durability and appropriate texture of proper chewies. Sugar-free gum is another option some patients try, but it doesn’t provide the same controlled compression and can stick to aligners.

Orthodontists generally don’t recommend substitutes because chewies are specifically designed for this purpose. They’re inexpensive, reusable for several days, and can be obtained through your orthodontist.

How Often Should I Use Chewies With Invisalign?

You should use chewies every time you reinsert your aligners after removing them. This typically means 3-5 times daily, particularly after meals and your morning and evening cleaning routines.

Each session should last 5-10 minutes, with focus on areas where your aligners feel loose or don’t seem to fit flush against your teeth. New aligner trays especially benefit from chewie use, as they’re tightest during the first few days of wear. During this time, some orthodontists recommend using chewies up to 6-8 times daily to help the new tray settle into position.

As your trays become more comfortable after a few days, you can reduce usage to 3-4 times daily while maintaining proper aligner seating.

Can’t I Just Bite Down on My Invisalign?

Biting down directly on your Invisalign tray without a chewie isn’t recommended. Your teeth have different biting forces and uneven pressure distribution, which means some areas might seat well while others remain loose.

Additionally, biting directly on hard aligners can damage your teeth or the aligner itself. The plastic edges can create concentrated pressure points that cause discomfort or even crack the aligner material. Chewies provide a soft, cushioned surface that distributes force evenly without risking damage to your aligners or teeth.

If you don’t have chewies available temporarily, gentle finger pressure is safer than biting down directly.

Can You Overuse Invisalign Chewies?

While chewies are beneficial, excessive use is possible. Using them for more than 10-15 minutes at a time or more than 8-10 times daily typically isn’t necessary and might cause jaw fatigue or soreness.

The repetitive chewing motion can strain your jaw muscles if overdone, particularly if you already have temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sensitivity. Additionally, using chewies too aggressively can occasionally cause gum irritation around the edges of your aligners.

Listen to your body. If your jaw feels tired or sore, reduce your chewie usage. Once your aligners feel properly seated (no gaps, snug fit), you’ve done enough for that session.

Maintaining Your Chewies: Care and Replacement

Chewies are reusable but require proper care. Rinse them with water after each use and store them in a clean, dry container. Replace your chewies every 1-2 weeks or sooner if they become worn, torn, or discoloured.

Clean chewies by rinsing with antibacterial soap and water, or soak them briefly in denture cleaner. Avoid hot water, which can deform the material. Never share chewies with others, as this spreads bacteria.

Who Should Definitely Use Aligner Chewies?

Certain patients benefit more from consistent chewie use:

Complex cases: If your treatment involves rotating teeth, closing gaps, or addressing bite issues, proper aligner seating becomes even more important.

Patients with tracking issues: If your orthodontist mentions that your teeth aren’t moving as expected, chewies can help improve tracking.

Those with naturally larger air gaps: Some tooth shapes naturally create more space between teeth and aligners. Chewies are essential for these patients.

People switching to new trays: The first few days with each new tray are most important for establishing proper fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do chewies really help Invisalign?

Yes, chewies help by ensuring your aligners fit properly against your teeth, which improves treatment effectiveness and can prevent delays.

How to speed up Invisalign?

Consistent wear time (20-22 hours daily), proper aligner seating with chewies, excellent oral hygiene, and following your orthodontist’s instructions all help maintain optimal treatment speed. 

What happens if you wear the same Invisalign tray for too long?

Wearing a tray beyond the prescribed time won’t provide additional tooth movement once the aligner has accomplished its designed movement. Extended wear can cause the aligner to become loose, less effective, and more prone to bacterial buildup. Always follow your orthodontist’s schedule for changing trays.

What can I use instead of chewies for Invisalign?

Clean, folded paper towels can work temporarily, but they lack durability and proper texture. Official chewies remain the best option as they’re specifically designed for aligner seating and are very affordable.

Can you overuse Invisalign chewies?

Yes, using chewies excessively (more than 10-15 minutes per session or 8-10 times daily) can cause jaw fatigue or muscle soreness. Use them enough to properly seat your aligners, then stop.

Making Chewies Part of Your Routine

Incorporating chewies into your daily aligner routine doesn’t have to be complicated. Many patients keep chewies in multiple locations: one pack at home, one at work, and one in their bag for convenience.

Create a habit by pairing chewie use with other activities. Use them while watching TV, reading, or during your commute. The 5-10 minutes pass quickly, and you’ll appreciate the improved aligner fit.

Successful clear aligner treatment depends on multiple factors working together: consistent wear time, proper oral hygiene, regular dental check-ups, and, yes, properly seated aligners. Chewies are a small investment that supports your larger goal of achieving a beautiful, straight smile.

For more information or to start your journey to perfect teeth, get in touch with our team.