Does Chewing Gum Strengthen Your Jawline? Fact vs. Fiction

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Personal trainer John Diaz explains whether or not chewing gum can define the jawline

Co-authored by John Diaz and Bailey Cho

Last Updated: December 31, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Does chewing gum help your jaw?
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• Risks & Side Effects
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• Proven Ways to Sharpen Your Jawline
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• FAQs
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• Video

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From mewing to wearing a jaw bra, there are tons of viral beauty hacks taking over social media. The latest facial fitness trend is none other than chewing gum, and some internet users are claiming it’s the secret to a snatched jawline. In this article, we’ll explain whether chewing gum can actually give you the jawline of your dreams… or whether it’s just a myth. We also interviewed fitness and medical experts for their opinions on the best ways to sharpen your jawline.

Is chewing gum good for your jaw?

Personal trainer John Diaz says chewing gum doesn’t strengthen the jawline because the muscles in the jaw don’t work that way. Most of the chewing muscles are found in the cheek and neck, and chewing doesn’t affect the look of the jaw. For a defined jawline, consider weight loss, filler injections, or plastic surgery.

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Section 1 of 4:

Does chewing gum help your jawline?

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1. 
   No, there’s no scientific evidence that chewing gum helps your jawline. According to Diaz, there’s a lot of misinformation circulating online about gum chewing, but it doesn’t work to strengthen the jawline. Most of the chewing muscles are in your cheek and neck, which means chewing gum is unlikely to sharpen, define, or reshape your jaw.

   • Diaz says you would probably have to get some kind of filler to get that “Hollywood star jawline look.”
   • Some studies show that chewing gum regularly can strengthen the masticatory muscles, but this mainly improves masticatory performance (i.e., chewing function). Strengthening these muscles can actually result in a wider or squarer face shape without improving the jawline.
   • Most of your facial appearance is shaped by age, genetics, bone structure, skin elasticity, and overall body fat—not by jaw exercises alone. We’ll walk you through the best ways to sharpen your jawline later on.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   John Diaz is a personal trainer and exercise professional with over 35 years of experience, based in Los Angeles, CA.

   Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS, is a board-certified dentist and oral surgeon who specializes in dental implants, TMJ treatments, periodontal plastic surgery, and more.

   Usha Rajagopal, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon and the Medical Director of the San Francisco Plastic Surgery and Laser Center, with more than 20 years of experience.

   Dr. Ellen Turner is a double board-certified dermatologist who offers an array of dermatology services, including medical, cosmetic, surgical, and laser procedures.

   Yuly Gorodisky, DO, FACOS, is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon who specializes in cosmetic surgeries of the face, breast, and body, as well as reconstructive surgery.
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Section 2 of 4:

Risks of Chewing Too Much Gum

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1. 
   Excessive chewing may lead to jaw pain, headaches, or digestive issues. While chewing gum is generally safe, excessive chewing can tire your jaw muscles and lead to problems such as jaw clicking, popping, and headaches. If you regularly grind or clench your teeth or experience temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, chewing gum can further stress the joint. Certain gums may also trigger abdominal cramps, bloating, or diarrhea in some people.

   • How long should you chew gum? A general guideline is to chew gum for 30 minutes at a time.
   • “Avoid eating hard or chewy food and chewing gum” if you have TMJ pain, says board-certified oral surgeon Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS.

Section 3 of 4:

Best Ways to Sharpen Your Jawline

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   Weight loss The most effective way to get a defined jawline is to reduce your overall body fat. To lose weight, aim to burn more calories than you consume, and eat a healthy, balanced diet. “Controlling your caloric intake is the number one way to lose weight,” according to fitness trainer Laila Ajani. However, you should also “get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week,” says registered dietitian Jalpa Sheth.

   • A balanced meal looks like ½ plate of fruits and vegetables, ¼ plate of whole grains, and ¼ plate of lean protein.
   • Moderate-intensity exercise includes brisk walking, swimming, cycling, and mowing the lawn. For additional health benefits, aim for 300 minutes of exercise per week.
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   Dermal fillers Injecting hyaluronic acid filler into the chin and jaw is a popular procedure to improve the jawline and chin projection, according to board-certified plastic surgeon Usha Rajagopal, MD. Jawline filler adds volume and definition, which can lift and tighten sagging skin, correct facial asymmetry, and give you a sharper, more contoured look. The results are immediate and can last several months to over a year, depending on the specific product, the injector’s technique, and your lifestyle.

   • Alternatively, you can use Kybella, an injectable treatment that uses deoxycholic acid to destroy fat cells under the chin.
   • Sometimes, correcting the chin and jaw can make it look like you’ve lost weight and reduce the appearance of a double chin, says Dr. Rajagopal.
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   Emface treatment The Emface is a 20-minute, non-invasive treatment that targets the area under the chin to tighten skin, metabolize fat, and sculpt the jawline. According to double board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ellen Turner, the device works through “radiofrequency and electromagnetic energy to lift and tighten the muscle area and essentially dissolve fat.” It also stimulates collagen and elastin production and can help reduce the symptoms of TMJ.

   • The Emface is a needle-free procedure that has been cleared by the FDA, with results that typically last one year.
   • Most people experience a warming sensation, mild muscle contractions, slight redness, or tingling in the treated area, which usually clears within a few hours.
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   Botox If you have a broad, square-shaped jaw, Botox can help relax the large masseter muscle to give you a sleeker jawline. The process involves injecting neurotoxins to paralyze and weaken the muscle, which helps reduce the size of the muscle over time and slim down your lower face. It’s a great option for people who grind or clench their teeth at night.

   • Jawline Botox generally lasts around 3-6 months, but you likely have to return for touch-ups afterwards to maintain the results.
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   Thread lifts This is a nonsurgical procedure that lifts and tightens your skin, creating a more defined jawline. A plastic surgeon inserts medical-grade thread under your skin, then pulls your skin upward and backward for a lifted look. The thread activates your body’s natural healing response, which boosts collagen production for long-term tightening.

   • The results are immediate and typically last 1-3 years. Over time, the thread dissolves and is absorbed by the body, but you can undergo another procedure if you like the effect.
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   Surgical procedures If non-invasive treatments do not work for you, talk to your healthcare provider or a board-certified plastic surgeon for surgical options. Here are some of the most common procedures for a more sculpted and defined jawline:

   • Neck lift: This tightens sagging skin and reduces fat from under your chin. It offers significant definition, especially after weight loss or with aging.
   • Neck liposuction: This procedure removes excess fat from under the chin and neck to achieve a more sculpted appearance. The results may be permanent.
   • Fat grafting: This technique involves harvesting your own fat, purifying it, and then strategically injecting it along the jaw and chin for a shaper contour.
   • Chin augmentation: You can reposition the chin bone to project the chin forward. Or, insert a chin implant to add definition to the jawline, says board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Yuly Gorodisky, DO, FACOS.
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   Contouring makeup For a quick and easy trick, try contouring your jawline with a matte, cool-toned powder that’s 1-3 shades darker than your natural skintone. Makeup and beauty specialist Miranda Mendelson recommends “sweeping the shade along the edge of your jawbone, softly blending toward your neck. This will create the illusion of a shadow and a sharper jawline.”

   • Make sure to blend thoroughly and look at your makeup in different lighting to avoid harsh lines.
   • Remember, you want the contour to mimic natural shadows, so steer clear of warm, bronzy shades.
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Section 4 of 4:

Frequently Asked Questions

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1. 1
   How long should you chew gum for jawline definition? To see any significant jawline changes, you need to chew gum for 8 hours a day for years. Doctors do not recommend doing this, however, since genetics and fat play bigger roles in facial appearance, and chewing too much gum can cause jaw pain or TMJ issues.

   • The best time to chew gum is after meals, for about 20 minutes.
2. 2
   Does chewing gum help a double chin or reduce face fat? No, chewing gum doesn’t help a double chin or reduce facial fat. Chewing doesn’t exercise the muscles in the neck and chin, which contribute to the appearance of a double chin. Plus, “you can’t target certain areas for fat loss,” says NASM certified personal trainer Laura Flinn. That means you can’t spot-reduce fat in your jawline.

   • Overall body fat percentage has a much bigger effect on facial definition.
3. 3
   Does chewing gum burn calories? Yes, chewing gum burns about 11 calories per hour. However, it’s not enough to make a noticeable difference in overall body fat or a double chin. The most effective way to lose fat and get a chiseled jawline is to engage in regular exercise and eat a healthy diet.

   • That said, research shows that chewing gum can help control your appetite and reduce snacking, which may aid in weight loss.
4. 4
   What are some other facial-fitness trends? Mewing is a popular facial fitness technique that’s meant to firm and reshape your jaw. However, there’s no scientific evidence to support this. To mew, close your mouth, lightly press your teeth together, then push your tongue against the roof of your mouth.

   • Additionally, gua sha is a popular facial massage tool used to promote lymphatic drainage and tighten the skin. You scrape your skin with a stone tool to improve circulation, reduce puffiness, and relieve tension.
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