A strong, chiseled jawline has long been a physical trait many men, and even women, strive for. Unfortunately, only some are born with this chiseled feature, though many still strive to achieve the strong, sharp jawline that many find more physically appealing.
If you dream of a strong jawline, chances are you have seen multiple YouTube videos claiming that the simple act of chewing gum can deliver the results you are searching for.
While chewing gum can help stimulate and build your jaw muscles, the results are unlikely to deliver what you expect and instead lead to poor oral health.
Here we look at what chewing gum can really do for your jawline.
Key Takeaways
- Gum chewing, or any chewing for that matter, works to exercise your masseter muscles, but in order to actually build this muscle enough to develop a wider and more chiseled look, you would need to chew gum all day for years, and this is still unlikely to develop the muscles in the correct areas to achieve the look you want.
- While traditional gum can help exercise your jaw muscles, other gum varieties, such as mastic and falim gum, provide greater resistance to help build muscles and increase jawline strength.
- Regular gum chewing can provide other benefits but can also cause dental and overall health issues.
Does chewing gum give you a better jawline?
Despite the online claims of YouTubers and those that promote chewing exercises, regular gum chewing is unlikely to give you the sharper jawline you are after. While regular gum chewing can strengthen your masseter muscles and increase their size, they are not the only factor in your face’s structure. How sharp or chiseled your jawline is will also depend on the shape of your mandibular bone or jawbone, the fat pads you have in your cheeks, and the fat deposits and skin elasticity in your neck. With all these factors in play, it is impossible to expect gum chewing alone to make a difference.
Chewing gum and jaw muscles
When it comes to chewing gum or your favorite food, mastication, or the act of chewing, involves four major muscles: the masseter muscle, the temporalis muscle, and the medial and lateral pterygoid muscles. The masseter muscle is the primary muscle responsible for chewing and is already the strongest muscle in your body. It connects your lower jaw directly to your cheekbone. The temporalis muscle connects your jaw to just above the temple and allows side-to-side motion. The medial and lateral pterygoid muscles sit just below the masseter muscle and assist with jaw movement.
How can chewing gum help your jaw muscles?
Chances are you know that regular muscle workouts at the gym help develop muscles throughout your body. You could assume that regular chewing, such as chewing gum, will help increase their strength and increase muscle. In fact, a 2018 study showed that only five minutes a day chewing gum could significantly increase your maximum bite force. But there is still no significant scientific evidence that shows simple gum chewing can really make a difference in the shape of your jawline and facial structure.
Other benefits of chewing gum
While chewing gum can help you increase your muscle strength, there are other benefits gum chewing can offer. Regular gum chewing can:
-
- Help freshen breath
- Reduce hunger throughout the day, helping to lose or maintain a healthy weight
- Chewing sugar-free gum can help increase your saliva flow which in turn helps remove food particles and bacteria from your teeth and mouth, helping to reduce the risk of tooth decay.
- Multiple studies, such as those from 2009 and 2012, show that gum chewing increases alertness and may be beneficial for improving mood and boosting overall performance.
Traditional gum
Everyday chewing gum is easy to find at just about any corner store and comes in a wide range of varieties. While choosing sugar-free varieties helps promote oral health, these easy-to-find gums are great for regular gum chewing.
Mastic gum
Mastic gum is a resin or sap-like substance that comes from the mastic tree. People have turned to this substance for centuries for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Mastic gum is 10 times stronger than traditional gum and offers much more resistance when it comes to giving your jaw muscles a real workout. In addition, mastic gum can help reduce bacteria levels in your mouth and reduce the risk of dental decay.
Falim gum
Falim gum is the only sugar-free gum made in turkey, and while it starts out soft like traditional gum, it has more resistance. It is much cheaper than mastic gum and comes in a wide variety of flavors.
Does chewing gum pose any risks?
While chewing gum can help strengthen your jaw muscles and sugar-free varieties can be beneficial for overall oral health, it has its downsides as well. Regular gum chewing can have debilitating effects that can include:
-
- Tooth decay: While chewing sugar-free gum can be beneficial, choosing the full sugar varieties can lead to tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease.
- Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ): While chewing gum regularly can help strengthen jaw muscles, too much chewing can cause contracted ligaments in the jaw and cause disorders of the temporomandibular joint. This is especially true if you tend to chew more on one side than the other.
- Gas and bloating: While you may wonder how chewing gum can affect your gut, the fact is when you are chewing gum, you often swallow excess air. This excess air can cause bloating, abdominal pain, stomach upset, excessive gas, and even diarrhea.
- Headaches: Excessive gum chewing can place too much pressure on the temporomandibular joint, which can trigger headaches and migraines.
Chewing gum can be beneficial for your jaw and health
While chewing sugar-free gum can help reduce oral cavities, curb hunger, and even strengthen your jaw muscles, the chances of actually achieving a more defined jawline and appearance from gum chewing alone are slim. With the addition of quality bone structure, weight loss, dermal fillers, BOTOX, strengthening other facial muscles, or surgical procedures, you may be able to achieve the jawline you are hoping for.
Helping you keep your jaw and smile strong and healthy
At New Leaf Rohnert Park, our goal is to help you achieve and maintain quality oral health. While we know how important appearance and the perfect smile can be to self-esteem, we also know how detrimental chewing the wrong gum can be for your overall health.
If you are considering giving gum chewing a try in order to change the appearance of your jawline, it is best to ensure your teeth are in prime health first and that the gum you are chewing will not contribute to tooth decay. Schedule an appointment today, and let us help you achieve and maintain a healthy smile.
