What are Invisalign Chewies? Purpose and How To Use Them

Have you ever heard of Invisalign chewies? No, sadly, they are not sweets. They are actually a simple way to help your Invisalign aligners to fit better, or even just help you put them on securely. 

This article will discuss what Invisalign chewies are, and answer the following questions:

• What are Invisalign chewies for? 
• How do you use them? 
• Can you reuse chewies? 
• Are there any side effects from using Invisalign chewies?

Invisalign chewies are not necessarily something you ever thought you would need to use. However, they can help ensure your clear aligners are correctly seated and make sure your treatment goes as planned. 

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What are Invisalign chewies? 

Chewies for Invisalign aligners are soft, cylinder-shaped devices that you bite down on to help remove air bubbles between your teeth and the aligner, and help to make your aligners fit better. 

They are made from a soft plastic called Styrene Copolymer and are about the size of the well-known sweet, the drumstick squishy. However, these chewies are definitely not edible, so keep them well away from curious children!  

What are they for? 

Invisalign chewies are to help your aligners fit better, but they may not be necessary due to the great fit you get with Invisalign’s SmartTrack™ material.

However, when you change to a new set of aligners, they may feel tight and you may need a little bit of help getting them to sit perfectly on your teeth. Some of the situations in that you may need to use Invisalign chewies include:

• When you have a brand new aligner 
• Replacing your Invisalign aligners after you have eaten
• If there is an area of your aligner that doesn’t fit as snugly against your teeth 
• Before bed so your aligner sits well while you sleep

If you have a more complex orthodontic case, such as an overbite, and you need attachments, or buttons and elastics, your aligner needs to get a good grip of your teeth. Chewies can help your Invisalign aligner sit correctly on your attachments and properly grip your teeth so that your treatment can work to resolve more severe orthodontic problems.

How do you use Invisalign chewies? 

To use chewies with Invisalign aligners all you have to do is bite down on one while wearing your aligners. You can chew on them for 5-10 minutes per day, moving the chewie to different parts of your mouth to make sure you reach and seat every area of your aligners. 

If you see any air bubbles between your teeth and your aligners, it is especially important that you bite down on a chewie in that area. This is because air bubbles indicate that your aligners are not seated correctly and there is space between your teeth and your aligner. 

The steps to using Invisalign chewies are as follows:

1. Put your Invisalign aligners in as best you can
2. Bite down on a chewie several times  
3. Systematically move the chewie to different parts of your mouth and repeat step 2 
4. Double-check for air bubbles, and bite down in that area again if necessary
5. Repeat this for 5-10 minutes per day when most needed 

The following video shows you how to correctly use your Invisalign chewies:

Where can you get Invisalign chewies and how much do they cost? 

Your dentist or orthodontist might supply you with Invisalign chewies when you first get your aligners. However, if they don’t, then you can buy them at a pharmacy or with an online retailer. 

They cost anywhere between £3 and £10 depending on how many you buy in a pack, and which brand you get. There are a few different options; some brands have a selection of colours, and some are flavoured. 

When it comes to pricing, keep in mind that individual quotes for Invisalign will vary — you can call 866-383-0748 to find an Invisalign dentist near you who can give you a detailed price quote.

Can chewies make your treatment time shorter? 

If your Invisalign aligners don’t fit perfectly or aren’t seated correctly every time you wear them, you could be causing your treatment to last longer. A good aligner fit is important to your treatment working and going as planned. 

By using chewies you can help your aligner sit in the right place every time you wear it, and therefore ensure your treatment goes smoothly. This won’t speed up your treatment timescale, but it should help to ensure it doesn’t make it last longer than planned.  

Does using Invisalign chewies have any side effects? 

There should not be any side effects if you are using Invisalign chewies correctly. However, you may get a slight ache in your jaw because you are biting down with your aligners on. This will happen more if you are wearing a new set of aligners and they still feel a little tight.

Try not to overuse your chewies, and any pain associated with your new aligners should go away after a few days. In the meantime, you can use over-the-counter pain medication as directed on the package. 

Can you reuse Invisalign chewies? 

You can buy multipacks of chewies, but they are reusable so you don’t have to spend a lot of money replacing them each time. Just wash them with soap or toothpaste and rinse them thoroughly afterwards. 

Once your aligner chewie loses its shape, it’s time to move on to a fresh one. If you have run out, you can either ask your orthodontist or dentist for more or buy some online where you have a huge selection of different kinds to choose from. 

You can even get different-shaped chewies like these Y-shaped ones on Amazon. Y-shaped aligner chewies give you a customised bite design for different-shaped teeth, and the best part is they are flavoured!

Conclusion 

Your Invisalign aligners should fit you perfectly, and if they don’t, speak to your dentist or orthodontist right away to resolve any issues with the fit. However, there are a few occasions where it’s natural for your aligners to need a little help getting comfortably seated. 

This might be when your Invisalign aligners are new and a little bit tight, and they need help getting into the right position. Or maybe you have a few air bubbles, and chewies help you make sure you get rid of them and that your aligners are fitting snugly. 

You may also just like to use your Invisalign chewies to help you reseat your aligners after eating and drinking. 

Whatever the reason, Invisalign chewies are a great little device to make putting in your clear aligners that little bit easier. They also ensure that your treatment goes smoothly and to plan because ill-fitting aligners can slow down your treatment.

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