How To Use Movemints

Written by Dr. Dave Pechersky, Orthodontist and Inventor of Movemints

When I started treating patients with clear aligners, I kept running into the same issue: aligners only work if they are fully seated on your teeth, but getting them to sit correctly was not always easy. The usual fix was a small rubber chewy, but many patients (myself included) did not enjoy using it. I wanted something better and more comfortable, so I created Movemints, a tool people would actually want to use.

What Are Movemints?

Movemints are edible, aligner-safe mints with a patented multi-concave shape. Each mint has opposing grooves. Those grooves guide your bite so pressure is applied in the right direction to fully seat your aligners over your teeth. While you work the mint, xylitol dissolves into your saliva to freshen breath and support better oral conditions during full-time aligner wear.

  • Functional tool plus breath mint in one
  • Sugar free, vegan, and gluten free
  • Designed to be used with aligners in

A Little History

Movemints started with a simple idea. Over ten years ago, when I was treating myself with clear aligners, I found that using a chewy to seat my aligners was....unpleasant (I gagged). I thought there had to be a better - and more delicious - way. I spent months testing different shapes and materials until I found one that guided the bite into the right position without slipping around. That shape became the patented multi-concave groove design that Movemints still use today.

Here are some of the original design drawings from the patent. They show the concave channels that help your front teeth apply even pressure across the aligners:

Two illustrations of Movemints from the original patent document

How Movemints Work and How To Use Them

Movemints work by helping your aligners fully seat on your teeth, which is essential for predictable tooth movement. The patented grooves guide your bite so pressure is applied in the right direction every time. Here's how to get the most out of each mint and why each step matters:

    1. Insert your aligners and get them roughly in place.
      You want your trays mostly seated before you start. The grooves in the mint help finish the job.
    2. Place a Movemint between your front teeth, lining up a groove with the edges of your trays.
      The little channels in the mint guide your teeth into the right spot so the pressure goes straight down onto the aligner.
    3. Bite gently and rhythmically for three to five minutes.
      Movemints are designed to create a pattern of compression and release. Those light pulses help the aligner mold against your teeth and attachments so they settle and fit the way they should.
    4. Move the mint from side to side.
      Shifting it lets you target both the left and right front teeth so the whole aligner seats evenly.
    5. Let the mint dissolve on its own.
      The shape is made to last a few minutes so it can keep applying steady pressure. If you chew it quickly, you lose that benefit.
    6. Use a second mint if the trays still feel loose.
      New or tight aligners sometimes need a little more help, and the second mint keeps the same gentle pressure without tiring your jaw.

When To Use Movemints

Use them any time trays need a little help seating, and especially:

  • When switching to a new set. Do two back-to-back mints on day one, then one mint after meals for the first two days.
  • After eating or brushing. Once trays go back in, use one mint for 3 to 5 minutes to re-seat.
  • If trays feel loose or clicky. Do a quick re-seat session before bed.

Movemints vs Chewies: What's the Difference?

Feature
 Movemints
 Chewies
What they are
 Edible, aligner-safe mints with patented grooves Small reusable rubber cylinders
How they work
 Guided pressure from concave channels helps seat aligners evenly User bites repeatedly on the rubber roll to push trays down
Feel in the mouth
 Light, smooth, minty, dissolves slowly Rubbery texture, sponge-like resistance
Freshens breath? Yes, contains xylitol for breath and oral health support No breath-freshening benefits
Hygiene Single use and consumable, nothing to clean Must be washed, stored, and reused. Can harbor bacteria
Best for
 Anyone who wants comfortable, effective daily seating Situational use when nothing else is available

FAQs

Will this speed up my treatment?
Movemints help keep trays fully seated so your aligners can do their job. Good seating supports predictable tracking, which helps keep your timeline on schedule.

Is there a right number per day?
Use as needed. Most people use three to five across the day. Always use at least one short session after trays go back in.

Can kids or sensitive teeth use them?
Yes. Use gentle pulses and choose the groove orientation that feels most comfortable.

A Quick Note From Dr. Dave

I wanted something my patients would actually use. The patented groove geometry gives you a simple way to seat trays correctly, and the mint format makes it pleasant. If you want the full origin story, including my own aligner experience, read Why I Created Movemints.

Shop Movemints Clear Aligner Mints and make aligner care simple, fresh, and orthodontist developed.

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