ANA Discussion Forum

Post-Treatment => Facial Issues => Topic started by: CROOKEDSMILE on July 16, 2008, 04:41:44 pm

Title: IS IT OK TO CHEW GUM DURING FACIAL NERVE RECOVERY?
Post by: CROOKEDSMILE on July 16, 2008, 04:41:44 pm

I'VE HEARD FROM SOME THAT IT IS OKAY AND FROM OTHERS THAT IT CAN CAUSE OR MAKE SYNKINESIS WORSE. I LOVE TO CHEW IT BECAUSE IT KEEPS MY JAWS AND FACE RELAXED.

Title: Re: IS IT OK TO CHEW GUM DURING FACIAL NERVE RECOVERY?
Post by: Joef on July 16, 2008, 04:56:03 pm

If you can, I think it would help ... but, personally I'm afraid too ... I still have to be a little carefull about chewing .. (I keep biting myself)

Title: Re: IS IT OK TO CHEW GUM DURING FACIAL NERVE RECOVERY?
Post by: Cheryl R on July 16, 2008, 06:23:13 pm

Jackie Diels says no gum chewing as can promote synkinesis.             She is the only one that I happen to know about so others may or may not have the same info.
                                                 Cheryl R

Title: Re: IS IT OK TO CHEW GUM DURING FACIAL NERVE RECOVERY?
Post by: Rc Moser on July 16, 2008, 06:36:30 pm

As your doctor to be sure, mine recommended it in moderation. But it was hard for me just after my operation due to no feeling and cordination was that great. susposely it good excerise for the jaw muscles on you AN effected side.

Title: Re: IS IT OK TO CHEW GUM DURING FACIAL NERVE RECOVERY?
Post by: Omaschwannoma on July 17, 2008, 06:31:28 am

I have a prolapsed facial nerve, probably means in "our" language a weak, but functioning facial nerve and I chewed gum.  I began to notice significant weakness and achyness to my facial muscle so I quit as recommended in the AN booklet for facial problems--this seemed to help, not alot but did help.  As the weeks passed I've noticed I'm biting my lower lip on occasion!   :(  I will not start again with the gum chewing, but hopefully this hunger I have to eat myself will stop!   ::)

Title: Re: IS IT OK TO CHEW GUM DURING FACIAL NERVE RECOVERY?
Post by: saralynn143 on July 17, 2008, 08:31:14 am

I haven't spoken to a facial therapist (yet), but my dentist and my kids' dentist both say no. The human jaw is not designed for the repetitive motion of gum-chewing. It can cause TMJ and other problems.

Title: Re: IS IT OK TO CHEW GUM DURING FACIAL NERVE RECOVERY?
Post by: Meagan on July 18, 2008, 12:47:05 pm

My face retrainer trained under Jackie and she said no way not for a very long time....i did like the gum and miss it (going on 1 1/2 years without) and my mom works for Wrigley gum :)

Title: Re: IS IT OK TO CHEW GUM DURING FACIAL NERVE RECOVERY?
Post by: calimama on July 21, 2008, 09:24:51 am

This is interesting. I was trying to chew gum a bit the past 2 weeks as i thought i might help, but will stop. I didn't enjoy that much anyway as i still have numbness (including my teeth!) on the left side.

cheers,
Trish

Title: Re: IS IT OK TO CHEW GUM DURING FACIAL NERVE RECOVERY?
Post by: Meagan on July 21, 2008, 01:46:35 pm

The whole thought (my trainer explained to me) is that you are doing repetitive motion and you are chewing incorrectly since you don't have feeling on that side....and you can bite your tongue/cheek, or choke on the gum since you can't feel where it is.  That is how mine is since i still don't have feeling...others will more feeling might be different.