Jaw trainers are all the rage among men!
Indeed, these accessories allowing you to reshape the jaw without going through the cosmetic surgery box have gone viral on the web.
Reality or illusion, we take stock here and tell you what you can really expect from this method.
Anatomy of a jaw
The jaw is made up of two main muscles: the masseter and temporalis.
While the masseter muscle, small and square, is located on the side of the face, the temporalis muscle is located on the sides and on the upper part of the head and has a fan shape.
Both insert onto the mandible bone. The masseter is used to close the jaw and grind food.
In other words, it has a masticatory role and it is one of the most powerful muscles in the body.
The temporal bone also allows you to close the jaw, but also to move it sideways or front to back.
Apart from the masseter and temporalis, the jaw is characterized by other important muscles such as the pterygoid (medial and lateral), digastric and mylohyoid.
They work together to enable a wide range of mandibular movements.
Gums for strengthening the jaw are also known as “masticatory trainers” or “jaw trainers” and are considered articles de fitness facial.
Generally in food grade siliconethey are designed to respect dental safety while preserving taste and to provide a certain resistance to chewing.
The ideal recommended use consists of 10 second chews with breaks in betweenfor 5 to 10 minutes a day.
What effects can you expect from “masticatory trainers”?
Gums aimed at strengthening the jaw are likely to provide the following benefits:
And strengthening jaw muscles, providing better chewing and greater bite force; A facial refinement thanks to toning of the mandibular muscles and reduction of facial fat; A improved jawline definition, with a more sculpted, more angular appearance and a squarer jaw; A reduction of bruxism thanks to a release of muscular tensions in the jaw and a lubricating effect caused by the production of saliva; Correction of sleep apnea thanks to toning of the muscles of the throat and respiratory tract.
Specialists promise visible results after a few weeks.
Do chewing gums really work?
First of all, it must be understood that the configuration of the jaw is closely linked to the bone structure of the head, itself largely influenced by genetic factors.
So, although regular practice contributes to muscle strengthening, it does not have the capacity to modify its bone structure.
No need to believe that your facial features will change and your jawline will become considerably fuller and squarer.
In other words, don’t believe the before and after photos offered by brands that use Photoshop!
Then, understand that the sale of this facial fitness accessory remains relatively recent and that scientific studies are few in number and do not have enough perspective to observe and confirm real results.
We recommend using them for muscle strengthening purposes, but not for aesthetic purposes..
Do gums pose health risks?
Please note, some gums are designed to be placed further forward in the mouth, at the level of the incisors.
However, these are intended to cut food and not to chew it.
By training them too often, you risk creating unusual stress and too much pressure which can create long-term damage (see at 9:50′ of the video above).
Instead, prefer products positioned at the level of the molars, which are better suited and safer.
In addition, this accessory is placed in the mouth, it is imperative to carefully read the composition of the product before any purchase and to turn to safe and quality materials (such as food grade silicone, thermoplastic elastomer or natural rubber) and certified by independent organizations such as the FDA or EFSA.
Ban items made in China that do not meet the same security standardsor presenting materials that may be toxic to health such as PVC or phthalates.
Finally, it is important to distinguish between use and overuse.
By straining the masseter muscles too often and too intensely, we can cause injuries. temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) with weakening of the molars, muscle pain in the neck, shoulders and jaw, as well as headaches.
Alternatives to chewing gum
Please note that there are certain exercises that allow you to gradually strengthen your jaws and can be used without equipment and completely free of charge.
Le Mewing
Mewing is a technique that has gone viral on TikTok and popularized by Mike Mew, a British orthodontist.
The very concept of this method is to strategically position your tongue to reshape and refine the facestimulate bone growth and reduce the appearance of a double chin.
To do this, the back of the tongue should be placed against the upper palatebehind the incisors.
The head must, for its part, be kept straight and in perfect alignment with the spine, with the chin very slightly tucked in.
The teeth should not touch each other and breathing should be nasal for optimal oxygenation and good facial posture.
This tongue placement rehabilitation exercise is preferably carried out during meals or while drinking water.
Jaw muscle strengthening exercises
These exercises involve holding the position for about ten seconds and repeating 10 to 15 times.
1/ to work your masseter muscle
Place your index finger under your chin, push firmly upward while forcing your jaw down to create resistance.
2/ to strengthen your jaw and cheeks
Puff up your cheeks to store as much air as possible in your mouth, maintain this position before releasing the air.
Feel free to move your jaw during the exercise.
3/ to strengthen your zygomaticus and your masseter
Smile as widely as possible for a few seconds before returning to a neutral position, you will do as much good for your jaw as for your morale.
4/ To improve jaw definition
Create a contraction by firmly squeezing your teeth together (upper and lower), before gently loosening.
To conclude, although proponents of Mewing and gums claim that these solutions help reshape the jawline over time, making it more sculpted and giving it a more masculine appearance, the results are neither conclusive nor proven after a long period of observation.
The risks being minimal if you don’t abuse it, there’s no harm in trying it, but don’t set your hopes too high and, instead, learn to accept and love your face as it is.
Updated by Quentin on: 05/06/2024
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