Tags – Invisalign Chewies
Invisalign is a cosmetic dental treatment that uses clear aligners to straighten your teeth, and is a preferred alternative to traditional braces as they are virtually invisible.
If you decide to go ahead with this treatment, your dentist will create a series of aligners that work to move your teeth a little bit each time, and these will be swapped to the next tray every couple of weeks.
However, in order for this treatment to be effective, the trays need to fit tightly each time you put them in your mouth.
And in order to achieve this, you can use Invisalign chewies – keep reading to find out more about what they are and how to use them.
What Are Invisalign Chewies?
Invisalign chewies are soft, cylinder-shaped devices that you bite down on to help remove air bubbles and gaps between your teeth and the aligner, which helps to make your aligners fit better.
They’re about the size of a well-known sweet, Drumstick Squishy, and are constructed of Styrene Copolymer, which is a soft plastic.
For a few minutes, bite down on a chewie after your aligner has been put in; this repeated biting motion helps your aligner to better fit the form of your teeth.
Here are a few situations where you may need to use Invisalign chewies:
- 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 situation, such as an overbite, and require attachments, buttons, or elastics, your aligner must have a firm grip on your teeth.
In this case, chewies can help your Invisalign aligner sit correctly on your attachments and properly grip your teeth so that your treatment can work more effectively.
Finally, you may have heard that using Invisalign chewies will help speed up the process – and this is somewhat true.
In order for the treatment to work, the aligners need to fit snug on your teeth, and chewies can help improve the fit, ensuring the treatment stays on track as planned.
In other words, if aligners don’t fit properly, this will slow the treatment, hence why chewies are seen to “speed” it up.
How To Use Invisalign Chewies Correctly
To use chewies with Invisalign aligners, simply bite down on one while wearing your aligners.
You may chew for 5-10 minutes each day, moving the chewie from one side of your mouth to the other in order to ensure that you access and seat all areas of your aligners.
It’s also critical to chew on a chewie in that region if you notice any air bubbles between your teeth and the aligners.
This is because air pockets indicate that your aligners are not correctly placed and there is space between your teeth and the tray.
To summarise, here are 5 quick steps to using Invisalign chewies:
- Put your Invisalign aligners in as best you can
- Bite down on a chewie several times
- Then move the chewie to different parts of your mouth and repeat step 2
- Double-check for air bubbles, and bite down in that area again if necessary
- Repeat this for 5-10 minutes per day when most needed
It’s also worth noting here that the chewie is small enough to fit into your Invisalign case, so it can be carried with you through the day.
The best time to use Invisalign Chewies is before bedtime, to keep your aligners comfortable in your mouth while you sleep. Wash them with warm water and soap, then reuse until they lose their form and elasticity.
A new package of Invisalign chewies may be provided by your dentist, or you can easily order them online.
The Bottom Line
If your Invisalign aligners don’t fit you properly, talk to your dentist as soon as possible to resolve any concerns with the fit.
However, there are a few situations when it’s natural for your aligners to need some assistance getting seated comfortably.
For instance, when your Invisalign aligners are brand new and a little tight, they may need some assistance getting into the correct position.
Or maybe you have a few air pockets, and chewies assist you in ensuring that the gaps between your teeth are closed.
All in all, Invisalign chewies are a great little device to make putting in your aligners that little bit easier.
Plus, they also ensure that your treatment goes smoothly as ill-fitting aligners can slow down the process.
To find out more, please contact us today.
Check out our Invisalign treatment in the meantime.
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