Is mastication good for your face? (Actual question)

[Armstead]

Despite the title, I was wondering about something today, while chewing on some food that was really doughy, and giving my jaw a workout.

Does chewing things like doughy bread and similar things that require you to work at it help keep your face firm? I struck me that it's a exercise for the jaw and facial muscles that might help keep one's lower face from dropping as age and gravity take their toll.

Okay I admit it's a stupid (and probably vain sounding) question. But if anyone knows, I'd be interested in the answer before I deliberately go out and buy any tough-to-chew food looking for the fountain of youth...Okay just kidding. But hey, and little edge you can get.

[GOPisEvil]

1. They say chewing gum helps firm the face!

I don't know about any evidence, but it might be true. :shrug:

Chewing gum DOES burn calories though.

[Armstead]

2. I don't need to burn any calories

but a little face firming wouldn't hurt.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. It's good for the muscles that are in your face

but not terribly good for your teeth or temporal mandibular joint! Everything in moderation!

[Armstead]

5. So I guess buying some Play Doh to chew is out..

just kidding. I wouldn't reallly do that. Would I?

[toolfan]

4. You could be right

I'm gonna go start toning my jaw muscles on some raw veggies! :bounce:


Speaking of weird thoughts...I had a strange thought yesterday in the shower: Do hemophiliacs shave?

My thought was probably not with a razor blade, but with an electric shaver...Does that mean a hemophiliac never experiences a truly close shave? :shrug:

[Maple]

6. Your face has muscles

the same as the rest of you, and yes they should be exercised.

It firms up your face, just like every place else.

All of your face, not just your jaw.

You don't need to eat either....

You'll look funny doing it, but it works.

[KFC]

7. Bad for your palms

You'll have to start shaving them

[RainDog]

9. LOL. actually, I was gonna say...

I know it won't cause you to grow hair on your hands... :)

There is a "stretch" in yoga for your face, btw, which is supposed to deal with those muscles...it's called...uh, something.

anyway, you sort of stick out your tongue as far as you can and make a sort of scary/astonished face.

this scary/astonished face has nothing to do with the hair growing on your hands...

[shugah]

10. the lion

i believe that's what that position is called.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

11. I thought it made you go blind!

[SOteric]

8. An acquaintance

of mine who is a photographers says that chewing things like stale licorice and hard rolls helps to give people the hollowed-out cheeks which produce a really photogenic face. They'll also help add more than the 10 pounds the camera tends to put on.

From what I've read, folks would do better to work it from the inside out. Take a lot of vitamins B & C together and it'll help replace whatever levels of collagen are dissapating from one's gracefully aging skin.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

12. What's the alternative to chewing?

Living on purees?

(I actually did that when I had my wisdom teeth pulled: pureed soups and fruit yogurt shakes for two weeks.)

[WillyT]

13. I Couldn't Tell Ya... Will Pitt's Got My Face !!!

Lord knows what he's doin wid it???

:shrug: