Isreali article found in teeenagers with chronic headaches, 19/30 cases resolved by quiting gum chewing
The Influence of Excessive Chewing Gum Use on Headache Frequencyand Severity Among Adolescents
Nathan Watemberg, Manar Matar, Miki Har-Gil, Muhammad Mahajnah
Pediatr Neurol 2014; 50: 69-72
http://www.aftau.org/weblog-medicine–health?&storyid4704=1141&ncs4704=3
- 25/30 were girls
- 16 averqge age
- 26/30 noted improvement with stopping chewing – 19/30 resolved
- all 20 of these cases who restatred chewing had recurrence of headaches within days of restarting
- 24/30 chewed more than 1 hour/day
- 1/2 had family Hx migraines
- TMJ strain thought cause though aspartame reaction was mentioned.
- Common adult triggers – “Stress was most common, followed by hormones in women, not eating, weather, sleep disturbance, perfume or odor, neck pain, light(s), alcohol, smoke, sleeping late, heat, food, exercise, and sexual activity.”
- Additional childhood triggers – video games, noise, exposure to smoke, school book reading. Specific foods and drinks, particularly chocolate, alcoholic drinks, and cheese
Comment – have to ask now re chewing