What Is the “Extra Hard” Gum Chewing Craze on TikTok? Does Chewing Hard Gum Actually Help?

A recent new craze on TikTok involves users chewing “extra hard” chewing gum. According to the videos, this has the supposed benefit of improving the jawline of a person. But is this true? Now, a dental expert has discussed the craze and provided information on what chewing extra hard gum truly does.

Seeing new trends and crazes from the app TikTok is common. But a new craze – focused on chewing “extra hard” gum – may not be as effective as some people think.

There has recently been a huge number of videos of users chewing on “extra hard” gum uploaded to the app [1]. Many of these benefits promote the supposed benefits to this.

However, the truth is that this can actually be quite harmful. Knowing this is important, as it can protect a person’s oral health.

Impact of TikTok crazes

TikTok has grown enormously in the last few years. Research shows that there are currently over 2 billion users of the app [2].

This includes a huge range of age groups. However, the app is used mainly by teenagers and young adults – who are typically the most impressionable too.

Therefore, when there are crazes on TikTok, many younger people will be keen on partaking. When these are harmless crazes, there is nothing wrong with this. However, when the crazes are dangerous, this can lead to danger.

Chewing “extra hard” gum

One of the most recent crazes seen on TikTok concerns the use of extra-hard chewing gum. There are many videos on the app of users chewing the gum.

Many of the videos suggest that the person is in discomfort, with their mouths clearly having to do significant work to chew the gum.

Users on social media who are promoting the use of this gum have argued that it is a way of developing a chiseled jawline [1].

Many people, especially young men, see a chiseled jawline as a highly desirable and “manly” trait. Therefore, they are keen on doing what they can to form such a jawline.

The extra hard gum is seen as a “facial fitness” gym, and supposedly helps with toning and tightening the muscles around the jaw [1].

What is the oral health impact of chewing extra hard gum?

So does chewing hard gum assist with chiseling the jaw? Also, is chewing extra hard gum helpful or harmful? Experts have now weighed in on this discussion.

Dr. James Ruggiero – chair of dentistry at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey – has commented. He says that the extra hard gum has “very limited scientific research” to back up its use [1].

Actually, Ruggiero says that chewing extra hard gum can be harmful. Chewing with strong force puts a lot of pressure on the teeth. In some cases, it can cause them to crack or chip [1].

Furthermore, the risk is heightened if cavities or other oral health problems are present – as the teeth will already be weakened by this point. The additional chewing can worsen these issues [1].

Moreover, Ruggiero points out that constant jaw movement can strain the temporomandibular joint – which is the joint that connects the jawbone to the skull [1]. This is a very important joint, and straining it can lead to pain developing easily.

Ruggiero sums this up by saying “chewing extra hard gum can be extremely detrimental to your oral health, causing significant damage to your teeth and jaw” [1].

Ruggiero has said that if a person does chew extra hard gum, any changes would be subtle. Therefore, the changes touted on TikTok are not truthful.

Summary

Unfortunately, it is always the case that we should take any claim or craze on TikTok with a pinch of salt. There have been many examples of harmful dental advice being provided on the app.

Regrettably, there are too many risks involved with this craze. Excessive pressure on the teeth, risking dental issues and potential joint pain are all unfortunate consequences of chewing extra hard gum.

Instead of chewing hard gum, regular exercise and a healthy diet can help a person to lose weight – which would enhance the chances of a chiseled jawline developing.

Overall, while chewing hard gum may provide modest benefits, there are many potential problems it can cause. It is important to prioritize oral health!

Thinking points…

1) It should be noted that the concern here is chewing extra hard gum. Remember that chewing regular gum is helpful from an oral health perspective, as it can stimulate the production of saliva and regulate acid levels in the mouth. Therefore, chewing normal gum can help with your oral health. Moreover, attending regular dental check-ups is a crucial way of keeping your oral health strong. We recommend that you book regular dental appointments – why not book one now?

2) Do you have a child or teenager? If so, it is highly likely that they use TikTok regularly. Therefore, they might be exposed to content like this. It is important to have regular conversations with them about their dental health. You could have a conversation with them or book them in for a dental check-up!

What we offer at Savanna Dental

Savanna Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We provide our patients with a range of treatment options and advice, with the aim of improving oral health and boosting overall wellbeing!

We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a dental check-up. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To try and prevent problems, it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly.

Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Our patients find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.

In addition, the fees of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.

We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca/!

References

[1] Thompson, D. (2024). TikTok craze ‘extra hard’ gum won’t chisel your jawline—it might even hurt you. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-tiktok-craze-extra-hard-gum.html. Last accessed: 16th August 2024.

[2] Statista. (2024). Number of TikTok users worldwide from 2018 to 2029. Available: https://www.statista.com/forecasts/1142687/tiktok-users-worldwide. Last accessed: 16th August 2024.