Invisalign has transformed orthodontics by providing a clear and comfortable alternative to traditional braces. For the best results, your Invisalign aligners must fit securely on the teeth. This is where Invisalign chewies come in helping you to give a better fit. In this article, we’ll explore what Invisalign chewies are, their advantages, how to use them, and answer some common questions.
What are Invisalign Chewies?
Invisalign chewies are a device used to close the air bubbles between your aligners and teeth and improve the grip of aligners on your teeth. They are known by many names – Invisalign chew sticks, aligner chewies, aligner tray seaters, aligner seaters, and so on.
They are made of soft plastic material known as styrene copolymer. Aligner chewies look like a pencil or cotton roll. This shape and size are to facilitate the grip between the aligners. They also come in flavors to make them more interesting and desirable for kids and young teens.
What are Aligner Chewies Used for?
Aligner chewies might be small, but they are crucial for your Invisalign treatment. To work effectively, your aligners need to fit snugly against your teeth, applying the right pressure to move your teeth into the correct position.
Chewies help achieve this by providing a firm, even pressure when you bite down. They remove any air gaps between your aligners and your teeth, ensuring that the aligners fit properly.
How to Use the Aligner Tray Seaters?
Keep the tray seaters in between your teeth when you are wearing Invisalign. Keep biting it up in your mouth from one end to the other until you’ve bitten it from all corners of your mouth and with all your teeth.
Repeat this activity a few times for at least 20 seconds. Keep the frequency twice a day. The Invisalign needs to be fully seated on your teeth for it to move your teeth effectively. Therefore, most orthodontists recommend using chewies with Invisalign.
The Invisalign chewies are small enough in size, so you can easily carry them with you in your Invisalign case. This way, you won’t miss chewing them in case you are out traveling.
How Do Chewies Accelerate Invisalign Treatment?
Chewies help speed up Invisalign treatment by improving the fit of your aligners. When the aligners fit well, they apply the right amount of pressure to your teeth, helping them move into the correct position more efficiently. Using chewies regularly ensures your aligners stay in place, potentially shortening the overall treatment time.
What are the Side Effects of Orthodontic Chewies?
They don’t have any side effects. Some minor pain or discomfort is evident as you bite the aligner seater with your aligners on your teeth. However, if you are not using them correctly, you may feel more discomfort and pain. If this happens, you can take suggestions from your orthodontists to use chewies correctly.
The pain can be more intense with new aligners, but it’s not a side effect. You can stop using aligner chewies till your pain subsides. You can also try OTC pain medication to get relief.
What are the Advantages of Using Chewies?
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Tooth Movement
Chewies help teeth move faster and more predictably. By gently pushing on the aligners, they make sure the aligners fit tightly and apply the right amount of pressure on the teeth. This leads to straighter teeth in less time.
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Enhanced Aligner Fit
Chewies get rid of air bubbles between the aligners and teeth. This makes the aligners fit better and helps guide the teeth into the correct position.
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Clearer Speech
When aligners fit securely, they are less likely to interfere with your speech. Chewies contribute to this by ensuring a tight fit.
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Greater Comfort
Proper aligner fit reduces discomfort and irritation. Chewies help achieve this by distributing pressure evenly across your teeth.
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Convenience
Chewies are small and portable, making them easy to carry with you wherever you go.
Closing Thoughts
Invisalign chewies may seem like a small part of your orthodontic journey, but they play a significant role in ensuring your aligners work effectively. By using them regularly, you can enhance the fit of your aligners, potentially speeding up your treatment and making the process more comfortable.
FAQs
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Can you reuse the Invisalign chew sticks?
The good thing about Invisalign chew sticks is that they are reusable. So aligner chewies, you can use them until they don’t lose their shape. A simple thing to remember is to clean the aligner chewies each time you use them with soap or toothpaste.
You can get their multipacks so that you can quickly move to another once the one you use goes out of shape.
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Can aligner chewies speed up the Invisalign treatment?
The purpose of using chewies with Invisalign is to care for the fitting of aligners on the teeth. And that is the most crucial factor of the Invisalign treatment. The aligners put gentle pressure on your teeth to move them to the desired place. Therefore their fitting on teeth can also get loose after some time.
The chewies are crucial as they maintain the fit of your aligners so that the aligners keep shifting the teeth in the correct position.
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Where to buy Invisalign chewies?
When you begin your treatment, your orthodontist provides you with multiple aligner tray seaters. Once you run out of that, you can get them easily from a local drug store or a grocery store.
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Can you eat the aligner tray seaters?
Sorry! You can’t eat your aligner tray seaters, made of soft plastic, and you can’t eat plastic! You can opt for “movemints,” which is an edible mint if you are interested in snacking along with enhancing the fitting of your aligners.
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How often should you use your Invisalign chewies?
Chewies are generally advised to be used multiple times a day, particularly after putting in new aligners. This practice helps make sure the aligners fit properly and align correctly with your teeth, which supports effective tooth movement during Invisalign treatment.
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How to clean Invisalign chewies?
To clean Invisalign Chewies, rinse them with warm water and mild soap. Avoid using harsh chemicals or hot water, as these can damage the material. Let the chewies air dry completely before storing them in a clean container or case.
Dr. Brian Thurman has spent his entire life enjoying all the beauty that California has to offer. A Fresno native, he still escapes to the ocean or the mountains whenever his busy schedule allows. Driven by his love for natural beauty, Dr. Thurman enjoys creating beautiful smiles and healthy bites that last a lifetime. He is proud to be the only Ivy League trained Orthodontist in the Fresno/Clovis area.