Why Jawzrsize Is Dangerous, According to Experts

Social media has led many people to feel insecure about aspects of their appearance they otherwise wouldn't have even been concerned about, such as the jawline. With this in mind, it is no surprise that some people are turning to both surgical and nonsurgical interventions to modify their appearance.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons notes that some people use fillers or Botox to define or slim their jawline. Seeking a less invasive option, others have turned to jawline exercises. The idea of jawline exercises is that working out your jaw muscles can make them look more defined.

In comes Jawzrsize, a "jawline exerciser" that promises to "chisel and sculpt your jawline for your best look ever." But is this product effective, or could it actually do more harm than good? Here is what experts have to say.

How Does Jawzrsize Work?

Jawzrsize is basically like a tiny Thighmaster for your mouth. Jawzrsize swears on its website that its product "easily works for anyone trying to get that chiseled look" and that the device will help you "get a full facial workout in just a few minutes." The brand also promises that "whether you want to slim, tone, or tighten, Jawzrsize makes it easy to get the look you've always wanted."

To use it, you pop a small, ball-like device in your mouth. Users are urged to start during the first week with the easiest level (there are several balls, each with varying difficulties) and do three to four sets of 15 to 30 reps of biting down on the device and releasing. "If sore, take a rest day," Jawzrsize says online.

For week two, you add or subtract the number of sets you do "according to athletic ability" or "personal preference," Jawzrsize says. During weeks three through five, users will add sets with "middle and upper-level" Jawzrsizes.

Is It Safe to Use This Jaw Exercise Device?

As it turns out, experts are not impressed. Mark Wolff, DDS, PhD, dean of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, told Health that this is a "crazy device."

First, there's this: Dr. Wolff said that the device might actually give you a bulked-up jawline. "Many patients who struggle with nighttime clenching and grinding complain that those muscles bulge for them," Dr. Wolff noted.

The device will specifically work your masseter muscle, a muscle in the lower jaw area that helps you chew solid foods. "That will bulk up, but it's unlikely to get rid of bags on the cheek if that's what you're concerned with," Dr. Wolff added.

But even if there's a chance of results, Dr. Wolff said it's not a good idea to use this product based on what else can happen. "This is an incredibly dangerous item for the health of your front teeth," Dr. Wolff said. If you have "any periodontal [gum] disease at all," it can cause your front teeth to actually bend out, according to Dr. Wolff.

In addition, Dr. Wolff warned, if you keep using a device like this over a longer period of time, you risk messing up your teeth so badly that you'll need braces—regardless of the previous health of your teeth.

"Think of a child who sucks their thumb developing an open bite; When forces are placed on teeth, they can change positions," Nathaniel Lawson, DMD, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the Division of Biomaterials at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry, told Health. "The same thing can happen if someone were to use this device for an extended period of time."

There's also this: The device can potentially cause issues with your temporomandibular joint (TMJ), a joint responsible for your jaw movement. "Patients can get headaches and TMJ-related pain when their muscles of mastication become overused," Dr. Lawson said. "For this reason, dentists will make bite guards to separate their teeth and allow the muscles to relax. This device is the opposite of a bite guard."

According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, problems with the TMJ can cause issues including pain in the face, jaw, or neck; jaw muscle stiffness; limited movement or locking of the jaw; painful clicking, popping, or grating when opening or closing the mouth; or a change in the way the teeth fit together.

Health reached out to Jawzrsize for comment on these claims regarding the safety of their products but had not heard back as of press time.

Overall though, take heed: Experts recommend against these devices for the sake of your jaw health. "This is a really bad idea," Dr. Wolff said. "Don't use this."