Chewing gum for an extended period can cause jaw pain, because of the constant movement that's required. In extreme cases, it can even cause temporomandibular joint dysfunction or TMD a painful condition of the jaw.
Call Surprise Smiles today at (602) 842-4864 if you have questions or concerns about TMJ issues.
Why Should You Chew Gum?
Chewing gum is not something we associate with good oral health, but if you choose the sugarless kind, chewing gum can be healthy for your teeth and mouth, especially when you do not have access to brushing while on a trip or a night out.
Chewing gum can help remove thousands of bacteria from your mouth and increase saliva production, until you can have access to a toothbrush. In some cases, it can strengthen the jaw muscles.
Problems with Excessive Gum Chewing
If you have temporomandibular joint dysfunction or TMJ, chewing gum for an extended period can make the symptoms worse and cause you jaw pain, and is not recommended. If you do not suffer from TMJ, you can still have jaw pain after chewing gum for a long period of time.
What to Do for Jaw Pain from Chewing Gum?
The best thing you can do if you have jaw pain from chewing gum is to limit the time you are chewing. If the pain is severe, try relaxing your jaw and if this doesn't go away, let us know and we will make sure that there is no other issue going on.
While grabbing a piece of sugarless gum if you are out on the town for dinner or don't have access to a toothbrush is recommended, we did not encourage the practice of chewing gum, even if it's the sugarless kind.
Even artificial sweeteners can cause damage to the teeth and it's best if you avoid the habit, and if you have pain in your jaw try to stay away from chewing gum altogether.
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Chewing gum for an extended period can cause jaw pain, because of the constant movement that's required. In extreme cases, it can even cause 
