Can hard gum chewing change your facial appearance?

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

In this pilot study, healthy adults will follow a predefined hard-gum chewing protocol for four weeks, with 3D facial imaging taken at baseline, after the intervention, and after a washout period. Facial soft-tissue changes will be analyzed using 3D stereophotogrammetry, heatmaps, regional displacement, and linear and angular measurements. Secondary outcomes include self-reported muscle fatigue, soreness, adherence, and temporomandibular disorder symptoms. The goal is to determine if deliberate chewing can produce detectable changes in facial morphology and to gauge participant experiences.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Healthy, non-smoking adults.
* Age 20 to 40 years.
* Presence of a full dentition from central incisor to first molar in all four quadrants, excluding second molars.
* Stable occlusion with no ongoing orthodontic treatment or myofunctional therapy.
* Ability and willingness to comply with the prescribed hard-gum chewing regimen for 4 weeks and attend all study visits.
* Ability to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Age younger than 20 years or older than 40 years.
* Evident facial asymmetry from a frontal view.
* Signs or symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) according to the Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (DC/TMD).
* Less than the normal range of condylar motion during maximum opening and closing.
* Parafunctional habits such as bruxism with pain, clenching, or habitual gum chewing for more than 1 hour per day.
* History of major craniofacial trauma, orthognathic surgery, or congenital craniofacial anomalies.
* Ongoing orthodontic treatment or recent removal of fixed appliances (\<6 months).
* Significant malocclusion or missing teeth in the anterior or premolar-first molar region that may affect mastication.
* Systemic diseases or medications affecting muscle or bone metabolism.
* Previous use of botulinum toxin (Botox) within the last 6 months or anticipated use during the study period.
* Pregnancy or lactation.
* Allergy or intolerance to the chewing gum ingredients.

Where it's running

• UConn Health
  Farmington, Connecticut, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Flavio Uribe — UConn School of dental medicine
• Study coordinator: Flavio Uribe (Chair, Depto Orthodontics; UConn School of dental medic
• Email: furibe@uchc.edu
• Phone: 860-679-3170

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.