Invisalign attachments and chewies explained

Page updated October 22, 2026.

Invisalign attachments are small, tooth-colored bumps bonded to some of your teeth during treatment. They give the aligners something to grip and push against, so teeth that need bigger movements actually move (Invisalign.com). Chewies are something different: soft silicone tools you bite on to push the aligners fully onto your teeth (Invisalign store). Here is how attachments go on and come off, whether they hurt or show, how to look after them, and how to use chewies.

What attachments are and why you might need them

The AAO describes attachments as tooth-colored bumps placed on teeth during clear aligner treatment (AAO), and lists placing them as part of starting treatment (AAO). Align, which makes Invisalign and calls them SmartForce attachments, says they work like handles: the aligner presses against them to apply extra force where it's needed (Invisalign.com).

Your orthodontist decides whether you need them. Align says they're generally recommended when one or more teeth need more significant movement, and that some people need them on every tooth while others need just a couple (Invisalign.com). Cleveland Clinic lists bonding attachments to some teeth as a normal step in starting aligner treatment (Cleveland Clinic).

How attachments are put on

1. The teeth are cleaned and dried, and a bonding agent is applied (Invisalign.com).
2. A template aligner with small pockets is filled with composite resin and pressed over the teeth (Invisalign.com).
3. A special light hardens the material, and the template comes off, leaving the bumps in place (Invisalign.com).

Align says the whole process takes around 30 minutes (Invisalign.com).

Do attachments hurt? Do they show?

Placing them shouldn't hurt. Mild discomfort when you start wearing aligners over them is normal, and in most cases over-the-counter pain relief is enough, according to Align (Invisalign.com). The AAO says mild discomfort is common for the first few days of aligner treatment, with an adjustment period of about a week (AAO).

Because they're tooth-colored they're hard to spot, but some show more than others depending on where they are: attachments on front teeth are easier to see than those on molars, and orthodontists try to place them to keep them discreet (Invisalign.com).

Looking after attachments

• Brush and floss well. Regular brushing and flossing help keep attachments bonded (Invisalign.com), and plaque left on teeth can cause white spots (AAO)
• Drink only water with aligners in (AAO). Wearing aligners with other drinks is one cause of white spots (AAO), and aligners can trap liquids and food against the teeth (AAO)
• Brush before putting aligners back in after eating or drinking (AAO)
• Don't use your teeth as tools. Excess pressure can loosen attachments (Invisalign.com)

If one falls off, contact your orthodontist to have it replaced (Invisalign.com). More on white spots in getting braces off.

Eating and drinking with attachments

Attachments stay on your teeth, but the aligners come out: take them out to eat, drink anything other than water, brush and floss (AAO) (AAO). With the aligners out there are no food restrictions, because there are no brackets or wires for food to catch on (AAO). Put the aligners in their case whenever they're out, never in a napkin, pocket or purse, and keep them away from pets (AAO). If you lose or damage one, contact your orthodontist right away (AAO). Each set is worn for one to two weeks (AAO), so time out of the mouth adds up quickly.

How attachments come off

Attachments stay on for the whole of treatment (Invisalign.com). At the end, after a final check, the orthodontist removes them in a painless, non-invasive procedure, and may take a new scan to make your retainers (Invisalign.com). Retainers matter as much after aligners as after braces, because teeth are especially prone to moving in the first months after treatment (AAO). See types of retainers.

What chewies are and how to use them

Chewies, which Align sells as Munchies, are medical-grade silicone tools that help seat your aligners by closing air gaps between the teeth and the aligner (Invisalign store). With your aligners in, you bite into the groove for each part of your mouth until the aligner stops moving; Align suggests about 20 seconds per front tooth, as needed through the day (Invisalign store). Align's store listed a two-pack at $21.99 when we checked (Invisalign store).

Aligners only work if they're worn fully seated, at least 22 hours a day (AAO), so ask your orthodontist whether they want you to use chewies.

Do attachments cost extra?

Ask your provider whether attachments, and replacing a lost attachment or aligner, are included in the treatment fee; the AAO advises asking what any orthodontic fee includes (AAO). Clear aligner treatment typically costs $4,000 to $7,000 before insurance (CareCredit). See how much Invisalign costs and Invisalign Express.