What are Chewies? Clones of the beloved Star Wars character Chewbacca?  Little

Wookiee offsprings?  Not really. Chewies are actually small spongy cylinders that one

chews on while wearing Invisalign aligners. They are approximately 2.5cm (1 inch) in

length, and made of a plastic-like material, not unlike pool floating noodles. We offer

our patients non-scented or mint-flavored ones.

Star Wars Chewies

Chewies from Starwars? Not exactly… they actually work with Invisalign


How do you use them? You should always follow the instructions of your own

orthodontist when it comes to orthodontic aides of any kind, including Chewies. In

our office, we ask our patients to place them between their teeth in select areas then

clench on them, on and off for 20-30 minutes per day at 5-10 second intervals.

So what are they used for? They have a two-fold function. First and foremost, they

help “seat” the aligner onto the teeth so that there are no gaps or spaces visible

between the plastic of the aligner and your teeth. This allows for ideal adaptation of

the aligner to the teeth and therefore helps the aligner move your teeth more

predictably. Second, the clenching, creates a pumping action on the involved teeth

which presumably helps to bring more blood to the area. With blood comes the

various cells involved in moving teeth; so presumably, this also helps the teeth move.

Some types of movements in orthodontics and especially with Invisalign are not as

predictable. I find that the use of Chewies greatly helps increase predictability.

Please come and see us for a complimentary consultation to see how we can improve

your smile and whether you need to use Chewies for your teeth!

Happy Smiles™,

Dr. Pourang Rahimi