I often see people within the community ask: “Should I chew mastic gum to get a sharper jawline?”
The truth is: it depends entirely on your bone structure, the position of your masseter muscle, and the width of your jaw relative to your cheekbones.
1. Identify Your Masseter Height (High vs Low Set)
There are two broad types of masseter placement:
High Set Masseter Muscle
Sits closer to the cheekbones
Has a shorter vertical distance between the cheekbone and jawline
Usually gives a more angular look
If you have a high set masseter, you’re generally safer to train.
Low Set Masseter
Sits closer to the lower border of the mandible
When hypertrophied, it often creates an obtuse jaw frontal angle
If you have a low set masseter, training can easily make your jaw look heavier or sag lower.
2. Step Two: Compare Jaw Width to Bizygomatic Width
This is where we look at your facial ratios.
Your bigonial width relative to your bizygomatic width tells you whether your jaw is structurally narrow or wide.
If you need your ratios measured, you can use https://www.faceiqlabs.com/ and use code skool if you aren't in already.
If your jaw width is < 86% of your bizygomatic width as a man, then:
You have a narrow jaw.
And in this case, training your masseter muscles can be beneficial IF you have a decent masseter muscle insertion.
But remember: narrow jaw + low masseter insertion = a jaw that will typically look worse.
If your jaw width is > 92% of your bizygomatic width
Your jaw is already very wide.At this point, do NOT train your masseter under any circumstances.
If your jaw is between 86% and 92%
This is where masseter insertion becomes the deciding factor:
With a high insertion, you can train lightly
With a low insertion, it's better to leave it.
5. How to Train (If You Actually Should)
Use mastic gum, not cheap artificial gum.
Short sessions (5 to 10 minutes)
No grinding or asymmetric chewing
Start with 2 to 3 sessions/week
Stop instantly if you notice the width increasing in the wrong area
Final Takeaway
Carefully assess your jaw to cheekbone width and your masseter muscle insertion before you start chewing mastic gum with the goal of a wider jaw.
And ensure you carefully monitor your progress and stop immediately if you notice asymmetry or an unesthetic result.