Can i get tmj from chewing a lot of gum this month?

Question

i started chewing gum this month

i went way overboard

my jaw kinda hurts

i never chewed before this tho

can i get tmj just from this month of chewing?? ill stop chewing now.

Answer 1

I have a mild TMJ disorder from the habit of popping my jaw a lot. One day I took it too hard, the ligament tore and it healed differently. Because of it, I can't drop my jaw straight down like I used to.

I also have a bad habit of chewing gum for a period of time. If you have TMJ and chew a lot of gum, it is likely to get sore. Try to avoid chewy foods for a while and see if it still hurts.

Answer 2

Not likely. TMJ isn't generally caused by too much chewing.  It's usually believed to be caused by physical trauma or stress.  However, there is no consensus in the medical community about what causes TMJ.

If frequent gum chewing is causing you discomfort by overworking your jaw, you probably want to consider cutting back or quitting.