Join the Chewigem Loyalty Scheme

At Chewigem, we know that our products have a lifespan, which is why we've introduced our Loyalty Scheme. With every purchase, you earn Gems that can be saved and used for discounts on future orders. It's our way of showing appreciation for your loyalty and ensuring you always have access to the sensory support you need.

Choosing your Chewigem

Selecting the right chew can be a bit of trial and error, but there is a kind of science behind it and we have created some keys and terms to help you select. However we are always on hand if you want to discuss before you buy.

Next to each product you will see a key relating to various features of the products and also a life span table. Below is an explanation of each:

Durability - The ability to withstand wear and pressure. More stars = that the product is more durable. However, this should be considered in combination with other factors, as something more durable, maybe harder, which may not suit your chewing style, and cause you to bite and chew more aggressively.

Flexibility - This is how stiff and bendable the product is. More stars mean the product is more bendable and softer. Flexibility is important if you enjoy the feeling of something bouncing back in your mouth or something that does not feel very dense and solid. It is also an element to consider if you also enh=joy fidgeting with your chewable items.

Firmness - This is how it feels to the touch… the higher the star rating here indicates how strong the product feels, think of it as the difference between a hard plastic toy like lego as being very firm with no give and a soft one like a squirty bath toy that is softer and has some bounce to it.

Wearable - Chewigems have been designed to meet all needs and preferences. So this covers items that are ‘wearable’ and by that we mean as a pendant, a bangle but also some items can be attached to belt loops and button holes. This is an important consideration, some people cannot tolerate a cord around their neck or something on their wrist so there are other options. If we say something is wearable we mean it can be worn or attached. Those items that can be attached can often also be non wearable by not adding an attachment.

Chewable - This is hopefully clear, if we say yes to this, it means the main part of the product has been thoroughly tested and can be chewed without fear of toxins. Please note, whilst our cords are also toxin free, they are not designed for chewing, neither are the clasps. The word chewable is only ever referring to the silicone part of the product.

Cord Type - Our pendants have 2 types of cord. One is a soft, silky feel the other is a more robust and stiffer cotton. This is again to cater for those that have preferences on textures they enjoy or conversely cannot tolerate.

Lifespan and Chewing Style

Again for every product using over 10 years of experience we have been able to collate information on how long a product should last before needing replaced. It is important to manage your expectations, nothing in this world, even outside of chewing, lasts forever, everything does and will eventually break. Chewigem is all about directing chewing to a safer more acceptable habit. It is often something that cannot be stopped, it is a need that needs to be met. It is not as simple as, I destroy my chews so I need something harder… that actually might be the worst thing you can do. Or as simple as I destroy my chews so I must be an aggressive chewer. We often find those who see themselves as ‘aggressive’, need something less strong, as they need the bounce and feedback from a softer product, so going for a harder chew causes them to bite down even harder to try and get that sensation, which a tougher product won't give. Yet if they tried something softer, their chewing style would soften. That said there are those that need to feel no resistance and bite down with all their strength. It is complex, but by laying out what we mean as mild, moderate and aggressive should help you to identify which you are;

Each of the below can refer to a mix of frequency and strength… but it is designed for you to consider these points and make a more informed decision. E,g, you could be a mild chewer in terms of not needing to chew often, maybe only in tests, or transitions between classrooms, but your more aggressive in that you need to bite down really hard on something really hard to get the feedback you seek. Or conversely you could be a mild chewer in that you chew quite softly, but you need to do it most of the day and any mix of those scenarios. Or you could even find that you are ‘mild’ most of the time but if you are overwhelmed and need to self-regulate to avoid a meltdown then you become aggressive with you chewing style. Sometimes having different chews for different situations works really well.

Mild: This can refer to both frequency and the power at which you tend to bite down. The power is hard to measure because you cant easily compare it to another person’s chew. As a general rule of thumb, mild chewers tend to use their front teeth more. They may also like tearing with their teeth and nibbling away at parts. As with all types, consider what you are chewing now, or before trying a Chewigem, what was that texture like, did you damage it..what teeth did you use?

Moderate: Here you could he chewing more regularly, but not all the time. Making you a moderate chewer. But like all of these you can chew with moderate frequency but actually chew aggressively or softer. Moderate chewers often use a mix of all their teeth.

Aggressive: This could mean you chew a lot of the time and/or chew with all your strength, your jaw may ache (which you may or may not enjoy), you use your molars or enjoy the satisfaction of tearing things to destruction with your front teeth and incisors. Most of what you chew, ends up in tatters.

Summary: As you can see this is a complex area and to get it right you have to be prepared to invest a bit of time into trialing different products to find the sweet spot for the one that lasts as long as it can, whilst meeting your needs.

This will hopefully give you some thought to make a decision on which product to try. Think about what you chew now, how often , what triggers it, what texture and feedback you're seeking, whether you can wear it or not.

Durability - The ability to withstand wear and pressure. More stars = that the product is more durable. However, this should be considered in combination with other factors, as something more durable, maybe harder, which may not suit your chewing style, and cause you to bite and chew more aggressively.

Flexibility - This is how stiff and bendable the product is. More stars mean the product is more bendable and softer. Flexibility is important if you enjoy the feeling of something bouncing back in your mouth or something that does not feel very dense and solid. It is also an element to consider if you also enh=joy fidgeting with your chewable items.

Firmness - This is how it feels to the touch… the higher the star rating here indicates how strong the product feels, think of it as the difference between a hard plastic toy like lego as being very firm with no give and a soft one like a squirty bath toy that is softer and has some bounce to it.

Wearable - Chewigems have been designed to meet all needs and preferences. So this covers items that are ‘wearable’ and by that we mean as a pendant, a bangle but also some items can be attached to belt loops and button holes. This is an important consideration, some people cannot tolerate a cord around their neck or something on their wrist so there are other options. If we say something is wearable we mean it can be worn or attached. Those items that can be attached can often also be non wearable by not adding an attachment.

Chewable - This is hopefully clear, if we say yes to this, it means the main part of the product has been thoroughly tested and can be chewed without fear of toxins. Please note, whilst our cords are also toxin free, they are not designed for chewing, neither are the clasps. The word chewable is only ever referring to the silicone part of the product.

Cord Type - Our pendants have 2 types of cord. One is a soft, silky feel the other is a more robust and stiffer cotton. This is again to cater for those that have preferences on textures they enjoy or conversely cannot tolerate.