Chewing gum can cause... persistent headaches

For nearly two years, Chris Cullen suffered from frequent headaches, dizziness and a feeling of constant ear congestion. He also suffered from exhaustion and low mood.

Chewing gum too much at night can lead to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD)

Since starting to experience the above problems in February 2011, Chris, from Fulham, West London, UK, has seen 15 specialists, including a cardiologist, a neurologist and a chiropractor.

Each doctor offered a different diagnosis, from low blood pressure to a spinal problem. But none could explain all of Chris’s symptoms. By the time he saw his primary care doctor again in March 2012, Chris was desperate. The doctor had diagnosed Chris with depression and prescribed antidepressants, which Chris refused.

“Deep down, I knew my problem wasn’t depression,” says the 28-year-old project manager. “But the more tests and exams I did, the more anxious I became and I started doubting myself… Ironically, at that point, I may have been a little depressed.”

Chris finally agreed to try antidepressants. However, after a few weeks of taking them, Chris saw no improvement in his symptoms. Desperate, Chris went online to search for information. All the results pointed to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD).

According to the literature, the jaw joint acts as a hinge, able to slide forward or backward. The jaw bone is held in place by muscles attached to the joint next to the ear. A cartilage disc acts as a shock absorber between the jaw and the skull.

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJD) is a broad term that refers to any problem with the joint, the muscles surrounding it, or the cartilage discs. It can cause jaw pain, difficulty opening the mouth, or sometimes a clicking sound.

“The clicking sound itself is not a problem. But it can be a sign that different parts of the jaw are not working together,” explains Professor Andrew Eder, a specialist in restorative dentistry.

The UK Department of Health estimates that TMJD affects one in five of us at some point in our lives. The most common cause of the condition is overactive muscles and ligaments around the jaw, which become inflamed due to chewing gum or grinding your teeth at night. Specifically, according to Professor Eder, when you clench your teeth, such as when chewing gum or grinding your teeth, the jaw joint cannot slide back and forth, and this puts stress on the muscles, teeth and joints.

Additionally, the jaw joint can be dislodged by a blow to the head, an ill-fitting denture, dental treatment, nail biting, or even yawning or opening the mouth too wide to eat. Other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout, can also cause stiffness, swelling, and pain in the joint. Rarely, TMJD can originate from a tumor in the jaw bone.

Although the problem often resolves on its own, in severe cases the disc can slip too far out of place, causing the bones to rub against each other, causing wear and tear and fractures. Common symptoms of TMJD include headaches, pain radiating to the neck or back, ringing in the ears, and dizziness. While TMJD does not directly cause depression, it can become a symptom of depression.

Patients with chronic TMJD require orthodontic treatment or surgery. In Chris’s case, the severity of his condition meant he needed surgery to reposition the cartilage disc.

According to Vietnamnet