Do you look in the mirror every day and see a double chin or a puffy face and wish you had a sharp, chiseled jawline? You spend hours in the gym each week working to burn fat and build muscle, but what about your face? Your face has many…
Do you look in the mirror every day and see a double chin or a puffy face and wish you had a sharp, chiseled jawline? You spend hours in the gym each week working to burn fat and build muscle, but what about your face? Your face has many muscles designed to help you chew your food, but you can’t exactly add some weight and work these muscles on a regular basis. Or can you?
The truth is, there is a simple way to work the muscles in your face. However, they may not give you the results you are hoping for. Image Dental professionals are here to help you achieve optimal oral health, including a strong jawline and healthy muscles. Here we will explain how gum can benefit your jawline, but there are some things to consider.
Chewing and jaw muscles
Chances are, when you bite into your favorite burger, you aren’t thinking about the muscles in your jaw that make that possible. But when it comes to mastication or chewing, there are four major muscles that allow you to chew your food so you can digest it. These muscles are:
- Themasseter muscleis the main muscle used for chewing and is actually the strongest muscle in your body. This muscle gives you the ability to close your jaw with as much as 200 pounds of pressure. It connects your lower jawbone to the cheekbone.
- Thetemporalis musclebegins just above the temple and connects to the jaw. It allows for the side-to-side movement you use when chewing, closing your mouth, and even grinding your teeth.
- Themedial and lateral pterygoid musclesare underneath the masseter muscle and assist with chewing, opening your jaw, side-to-side motion, and allows for the projection of your lower jaw.
How does chewing help your jawline?
When you want to strengthen the muscles in your hands, you squeeze a stress ball. Repetitive movement and stress on the muscles help strengthen your hand. The same concept is possible for the muscles in your jaw. These muscles function to allow chewing, so increasing your chewing through gum will, in turn, increase the use of your jaw muscles, helping to increase their strength. In fact, a2018 studyshows that only five minutes of gum chewing twice a day can significantly increase your maximum bite force.
In addition, just like regular weight training helps build and sculpt muscles, gum chewing can help stimulate muscle growth in the jaw. This creates a larger and squarer jawline, giving a person a chiseled jawline. In addition, chewing gum and increasing your jaw muscle strength can also help lift your chin, reducing the appearance of a double chin. However, chewing gum alone is not going to eliminate a double chin completely or give you a sculpted jawline. Chewing gum cannot reduce fat deposits on your face or neck, so additional dietary changes and exercise to lose weight are also necessary to experience noticeable changes.
Other benefits of regular gum chewing
Chewing gum also offers many other benefits, including:
- Fresh breath– Chewing gum after eating can help combat that garlic or onion breath
- Improved oral health– Chewing sugar-free gum helps to increase the flow of saliva, which in turn helps to remove food particles and plaque from the mouth. This helps strengthen teeth and reduce the risk of tooth decay.
- Reduced hunger– If you are looking to lose weight, chewing sugar-free gum can help reduce hunger cravings, increase your feeling of fullness, and help reduce snacking between meals.
- Improved memory–Psychologists in the United Kingdomhave found that those who chew gum score significantly higher in short-term and long-term memory tests than those who do not chew gum during testing.
Dr. Stephen Nozaki is the owner and lead dentist at Image Dental in Stockton. He is a dedicated professional born and raised in California's Central Valley. With a commitment to his community, he brings advanced dental techniques learned from extensive education and continuous training from around the world. A third-generation Japanese American, Dr. Nozaki has a rich background that includes international living and a deep passion for both dentistry and outdoor activities. His focus in dentistry aligns with his passion for cosmetics and dental implants.
