TikTok has fueled the explosion of innocuous fitness trends like “hot girl walks” and “biohacking.”
But health experts worry a new facial fitness craze could become more harmful than beneficial: Videos of young men chewing rock-hard gum to achieve the perfect jawline.
“Do-it-yourself or direct-to-consumer products that claim to ‘change’ facial structure without the active supervision of a doctor have the potential for unintended, irreversible consequences,” Dr. John Callahan, president of the American Association of Orthodontists, said in a statement to USA TODAY.
Like many grassroots trends, the promised outcome is not based on scientific findings.
Chewing extra-hard gum likely won’t result in the chiseled jawline that young men may seek, experts say, and it could damage jaw joints and teeth.
The most recognized among the few brands of chewing gum for jawline workouts is Jawliner. On its website, the company recommends chewing the gum for no longer than 10 to 15 minutes every other day.
Buff is back in style:On social media, teens find inspiration and dangerous trends
However, this recommendation isn’t mentioned in the dozens of TikTok videos featuring young men who create sponsored content for the brand.
“I chewed and chewed and chewed,” said @carsonteagarden in a video tagged to indicate he’s earning a commission. “I chewed at the gym; I chewed when working. I chewed anywhere I was at. I was always chewing my gum.”
The TikTok user, who has over 121,000…
