Does Chewing On One Side Make It Smaller or Bigger?

A bad eating habit that is common in people who have oral health issues, such as missing teeth on one side of the jaw, tooth decay, broken teeth, loose teeth, worn enamel, etc., is chewing on one side of the mouth. .. What exactly is the negative habit of only chewing on one side, and what should be done to stop it?

It’s possible for the muscles and bones on one side to enlarge if you chew on it for a prolonged period of time. That’s why it’s recommended you chew in “circles” around the mouth.

What Happens When You Chew from Only One Side?

Attrition of Teeth on the Chewing Side

Because of the constant friction that results from only chewing on one side, the teeth on that side begin to wear down. since your chew only on that side, the process is just faster and more aggressive on that side. The opposite side also sustains damage and begins to accumulate a lot of calculus and plaque. Additionally, we have a tendency to brush the side of our mouths that we use to chew better, leaving the other side with poorer dental hygiene.

Read More: How Often Should You Brush Your Teeth

Sensitivity on the Chewing Side

As a result of exposed dentin layers on the chewing side of eroded teeth, these teeth are more sensitive.

Tense Facial Muscles

Similarly for the masticatory muscles. The used side becomes toned and stronger. The side that receives less traffic starts to deteriorate and appears slack. We have a good side and a bad side for taking pictures because of this. On the contrary, your jaw experiences this.

Pain in the Jaw Joint

When you’re chewing, the mandible, or lower jaw, is supported and guided by the jaw joint, also known as the temporomandibular joint, which is located just in front of your ear. All of your bones, tendons, and muscles are delicately focused on it. The TMJ is put under stress whenever you chew from one side.

Long-term effects of this include numerous issues like facial asymmetry, pain in the jaw, lockjaw, and loss of facial functional balance.

Do You Feel Pain Or Clicking Noise in Your Jaw Joint?

The first sign that you already have jaw damage is the asymmetry in your face. Change your bite pattern, get braces, or get Botox injections to stop the muscles from contracting to correct the problem. In some circumstances, jaw reshaping surgery may also be necessary.

Like we always say prevention is the best cure. Make sure to chew from both sides, then. To maintain good hygiene, brush your teeth frequently.

Alternatives to Chewing to Reduce Jaw Size

There are a number of exercise options and dietary changes you can try if you’re looking for something other than chewing to reduce jaw size.

Exercise can help your jaw muscles become stronger, and dietary changes can help you lose fat in that region to better define your face’s shape.

Your face muscles can be strengthened by performing exercises for strength training like chin-ups, push-ups, and planks.

In addition, eating more lean proteins and fewer processed snacks can help reduce facial fat in general.

Without chewing on one side, it may be possible to increase the size and shape of your jaw with the right exercises and dietary modifications.

Conclusion

It is obvious that chewing patterns and jaw size are related.

It might not be possible to significantly reduce the size of your jaw by only chewing on one side, but it is still a fascinating theory to investigate.

Diet and exercise can help strengthen the muscles in your face and improve the way your jawline looks if you’re looking for alternatives to jawline reduction.

The best way to figure out what works for you is to try out various strategies and see which one suits you the most.

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