Harmful Trends: Tik-Tok Gum Can Hurt Your Health

A few months ago, Tik-Tok social media's 'trend lines' met a new questionably adequate topic – hard-chewing gum, which allegedly developed a 'chiseled jawline' (probably the far echo of the 'sigma meme' that Zoomers invented a few years ago.)

Some gloomy genius promotes this product as a form of so-called 'facial fitness' – a set of exercises for tuning and tightening facial muscles, including those around the jaw.

Still, there is no scientific proof of its effectiveness; this gum became so popular that some medical experts noticed this trend.

Why is it harmful?

Dr. James Ruggiero – a dentist from Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey – recently published a professional opinion about hard-chewing gum:

"Excessive force during chewing may put a lot of pressure on the teeth, leading to cracks or chips. It is especially risky if teeth have cavities or other problems".

This gum can also affect the temporomandibular joint—the hinge connecting the jaw to the skull—causing pain or clicking sounds during chewing and jaw movement.

So-called facial fitness is a very questionable concept that contains various doubtful 'sports gear'—hard chewing gum is one of them—which does not guarantee the desired effect of a "chiseled jawline."

To gain it, Dr. Ruggiero advises to try a balanced diet and regular (traditional! not facial) exercises.