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Facial gum is all the new trend on TikTok, but does the product work?
TikTok has given the world some unusual fads, from cooking chicken in NyQuil to stepping on a pyramid of milk creates. Now, a new trend on the social media platform is catching on young men who want to achieve a chiseled jawline.
A handful of companies — including Stronger Gum, Jawz and Rockjaw — have launched chewing gum products called “facial gum,” which they are marketing heavily on TikTok. Companies selling facial gum claim their products will lead to stronger, more defined jaw muscles, improving one’s physical appearance.
“Stronger jaw muscles are not only beneficial for facial appearance but also essential for health,” Stronger Gum says on its website. “Strong jaw muscles promote correct oral posture: mouth closed, teeth aligned, tongue resting against the roof of mouth and stable head position. Correct oral posture has many important benefits such as breathing through the nose providing up to 20% more oxygen to your body.”
The gum products sell anywhere from $2 for a pack of 10 gum pieces to $90 for a pack of six pieces. The companies are selling a special type of gum called mastic, a tree resin that is tougher to chew than normal gum. Because of its texture, it can be chewed for a longer period, anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours, which in turn exercises jaw muscles, the companies say.
In an email to CBS MoneyWatch, Rockjaw founder Sachin Patel said there’s proof mastic gum helps shape jawlines, citing a 2019 study from Tokyo Medical and Dental University that concluded “masticatory force can prompt changes in facial structure.”
“There are studies that show increased chewing with higher mechanical loads increases jaw muscle and bone size,” Stronger Gum’s owner Tomas Palomaki told CBS MoneyWatch in an email, pointing to the same study. “As anecdotal evidence, I increased my jaw muscle size by chewing Stronger Gum for less than a year.”
Do facial gum products actually work?
Facial gum may be the latest social media trend in men’s beauty, but there’s no scientific evidence that chewing the product will sculpt someone’s jawline, dental professionals told CBS MoneyWatch.
The American Dental Association said it doubts the gums work. Chewing a tougher gum may strengthen jaw muscles but fails to change the “undersurface of the jawline,” which can actually lead to a wider shaped jaw and face, the group said in a statement posted on its website.
“Most viral trends are rarely backed by scientific evidence and can range from ineffective to harmful when it comes to oral health,” Edmond Hewlett, spokesperson for the ADA, told CBS MoneyWatch.
Chewing tougher gum could actually have other adverse effects on someone’s health, Hewlett added.
“The intensity of chewing gum for extended periods of time on a regular basis — especially if it is dense or has a thick consistency — could lead to symptoms like jaw pain, headaches and put you at risk for temporomandibular disorders,” said Hewlett, a dentistry professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Why is facial gum so popular?
Facial gum is just one of many trends younger consumers have adopted in hopes of defining their jawline. Another technique, made famous by British orthodontist John Mew and called “mewing,” involves flattening the tongue against the roof of one’s mouth for extended amounts of time throughout the day.
Popularized on TikTok, mewing, like facial gum, is part of a larger trend known as “looksmaxxing” — a male-focused collection of behaviors and products promoted as effective in helping men improve their physical appearance. Like most looksmaxxing trends, mewing has been dismissed by some physicians who call it an ineffective way to change one’s facial structure.
“Facial restructuring is not simply achievable by changing your tongue’s resting position,” the American Association of Orthodontists said in a statement in January. “It’s a complex process that involves moving jaw bones, facial bones, and soft tissue. Mewing has generated significant social media buzz lately. However, there’s no current research that suggests the technique provides any benefit to your jawline or oral health.”
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How to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The Minnesota Vikings will take on the Chicago Bears today. The Vikings are currently 8-2, an impressive run so far this season, and will be looking to add a fourth win to their current streak after last Sunday’s 23-13 win against the Tennessee Titans. The Bears, on the other hand, are entering this game on the heels of a four-game losing streak after a tough 20-19 loss against the Green Bay Packers last Sunday.
Here’s how and when you can watch the Vikings vs. Bears game today, whether or not you have cable.
How and when to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears
The Vikings vs. Bears game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT). The game will air on Fox and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears game without cable
You can watch this week’s NFL game on Fox via several streaming services. All you need is an internet connection and one of the top options outlined below.
Fubo offers you an easy, user-friendly way to watch NFL games on CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network, plus NCAA football channels. The Pro tier includes 200+ channels and unlimited DVR, while the Elite with Sports Plus tier adds NFL RedZone and 4K resolution. New subscribers get a seven-day free trial and all plans allow streaming on up to 10 screens simultaneously.
You can watch today’s game with a subscription to Sling’s Orange + Blue tier, which includes ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Fox. The plan offers 46 channels with local NFL games, nationally broadcast games and 50 hours of DVR storage. For complete NFL coverage, add Paramount+ to get CBS games, or upgrade with the Sports Extra add-on for additional sports channels like Golf Channel, NBA TV and NFL RedZone.
Watching NFL games, including Fox broadcasts, is simple with Hulu + Live TV, which includes 90 channels, unlimited DVR storage, and access to NFL preseason games, live regular season games and studio shows. The service includes ESPN+ and Disney+ in the subscription.
Want to watch today’s game live on your smartphone? If so, NFL+ streaming service is the solution you’re looking for. It lets you watch NFL Network and out-of-market games on mobile devices, with an upgrade option to NFL+ Premium that includes NFL RedZone for watching up to eight games simultaneously. Note that NFL+ only works on phones and tablets, not TVs.
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How to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The Detroit Lions will face off against the Indianapolis Colts today. The Lions enter this game as top contenders with a near-perfect record of 9-1 so far this season. The Colts, who are 5-6 this season, could have a tough game on their hands against the Lions but will be looking to rack up another win after prevailing over the New York Jets in a tight game last Sunday.
Here’s how and when you can watch the Colts vs. Lions game today, whether or not you have cable.
Here’s how and when to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Lions vs. Colts game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT). The game will air on Fox and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts game without cable
You can watch this week’s NFL game on Fox via several streaming services. All you need is an internet connection and one of the top options outlined below.
Experience NFL action like never before with Fubo’s comprehensive sports streaming platform. From Sunday showdowns to primetime matchups, catch every NFL game across major networks including CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN and NFL Network. Choose the Pro package to unlock 200+ channels and limitless DVR storage, or elevate your game-day experience with the Elite with Sports Plus package, featuring NFL RedZone’s commercial-free scoring highlights and stunning 4K quality.
Test drive the service with a no-commitment seven-day free trial, and share the excitement with family and friends — Fubo supports simultaneous streaming on up to 10 devices, so everyone can watch their favorite teams.
You can watch today’s game with a subscription to Sling’s Orange + Blue tier, which includes ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Fox. The plan offers 46 channels with local NFL games, nationally broadcast games, and 50 hours of DVR storage. For complete NFL coverage, add Paramount+ to get CBS games, or upgrade with the Sports Extra add-on for additional sports channels like Golf Channel, NBA TV and NFL RedZone.
Watching NFL games, including Fox broadcasts, is simple with Hulu + Live TV, which includes 90 channels, unlimited DVR storage, and access to NFL preseason games, live regular season games and studio shows. The service includes ESPN+ and Disney+ in the subscription.
Want to watch today’s game live on your smartphone? If so, NFL+ streaming service is the solution you’re looking for. It lets you watch NFL Network and out-of-market games on mobile devices, with an upgrade option to NFL+ Premium that includes NFL RedZone for watching up to eight games simultaneously. Note that NFL+ only works on phones and tablets, not TVs.