What side effects does mastic gum cause?
Jaw soreness: when it’s normal vs. when it’s not
Since mastic gum is dried resin, it is harder to chew than regular gum. The tougher consistency requires more effort from your jaw muscles, so fatigue will build up the longer you chew. It is very common for new mastic chewers to feel jaw fatigue and soreness during and after (respectively) their first few chewing sessions.
Fatigue will usually set in after a few minutes, with each bite becoming more tiring and requiring more effort. Jaw muscle soreness shows up later, usually in the hours after you stop chewing.
Soreness as a sign of progress
If you’re new to mastic and you experience this fatigue and soreness, there’s no need to worry. Both are signs that your jaw muscles are adapting to the tougher consistency of mastic. It’s the same muscle building process that your arms, legs, and core experience after a hard workout. They get fatigued during the session and feel sore afterwards, but they become stronger after they recover from both. The same thing happens with your jaw.
Overuse
Chewing mastic for long periods of time can also cause jaw soreness, no matter how experienced you are. You can expect some soreness after a longer chew.
What people think of soreness
People who experience soreness after chewing mastic gum actually praise the feeling. Most people who experience soreness see it as a good sign. As one customer put it, “my jaw was sore the next day, great jaw workout.”
Distinction from TMJ
When fatigue and soreness build up, the jaw muscles become tight. Many people mistakenly self-diagnose with TMJ disorders (dysfunction of the Temporomandibular Joint), when in reality, TMJ specialists say that these patients actually have tight jaw muscles.
Tight jaw muscles are usually caused by consistent muscle tension, jaw clenching from stress, and overexertion (from activities like eating tougher foods, chewing mastic gum, biting down on mouth guards).
Jaw soreness after chewing mastic is common, and on its own, it’s not a sign of a joint problem.
Learn more about the differences between normal jaw muscle soreness and TMJ here.
Digestive side effects: what’s happening and what to do
Digestive side effects are pretty rare, but there are people who have experienced minor gut issues with mastic gum. The most common symptoms are upset stomachs, constipation, and unusual gas.
How to handle GI discomfort
If you’ve never chewed or consumed mastic gum before, these feelings of discomfort are probably just your body adjusting to something new.
If you have no sharp pains and only slight discomfort, try starting with smaller amounts and shorter chewing sessions to let your body adjust gradually.
If you feel uneasy about the discomfort you’re experiencing, stop chewing mastic and allow your body time to acclimate to it.
What to do about stomach pains
Discomfort is different from pain. If you have sharp stomach pains, you should stop chewing mastic immediately.
Everyone adjusts to mastic differently. You can always give it another try at a later time. If you get the same stomach pains after more attempts at mastic, talk with a doctor to discuss potential causes and whether or not mastic gum is a viable option for you.
Tips to help your gut adjust to mastic
If your gut has never interacted with mastic, start with smaller amounts and shorter chewing sessions. Once you develop a baseline tolerance, you can gradually increase both. More info on pacing can be found in our chewing duration guide.
Dental work: what to know before you chew
If you have fillings, crowns, or other dental work, you need to be careful with mastic gum. Mastic is hard and sticky, so it can stress dental work.
Advisory for fillings, crowns
Due to its naturally adhesive nature, mastic can stick to fillings and crowns while you chew, making them vulnerable to being partially (or even fully) pulled out. Some users have mentioned that their crowns have gotten stuck in the gum while chewing, which is a pretty serious concern based on how expensive dental work can be.
Chewing with dental work
Before you start chewing, consider the potential risks. If you are someone with tooth pain, sensitive teeth, and/or dental treatments, you should take extra care if you choose to chew mastic gum.
Dental work and sensitive teeth will always be at risk when chewing mastic. Use your best judgement and chew mastic at your own personal discretion.
Start with softer pieces of mastic
Before you put any mastic pieces into your mouth, look through the tin and examine the pieces inside. Get a feel for the pieces by squeezing them with different levels of pressure. Some droplets and nuggets are softer than others, while some are harder.
Choose your pieces carefully by prioritizing the softer pieces, to create a softer chewing experience. Chewing on a softer piece of mastic can help to mitigate sharp, unexpected pains for those with sensitive teeth, while also lowering the risk of ripping out crowns and fillings.
Avoid chewing directly on dental work
If you start with a softer piece and chew on the opposite side from any dental work, you’ll lower the risk considerably.
Consult a dentist
If you have had extensive dental work done, talk with your dentist and discuss whether or not chewing is a viable option in your situation. In some cases, chewing mastic just may not be worth the risk.
While it may be disappointing, you’ll avoid a lot of potential pain, future dental expenses, and time needed to fix undone dental work, if something does happen to go wrong when chewing mastic.
Safety of mastic gum
Allergies to mastic
According to the Mastic Research Center, no allergic reactions from oral consumption of mastic resin have been documented.
Documented mastic allergies are either contact dermatitis from a surgical skin adhesive called Mastisol or respiratory reactions to Pistacia pollens.1 When it comes to chewing mastic resin, no allergies exist.
What the research says
A 2022 health overview published in Nutrients reviewed the safety of mastic across multiple studies and concluded that mastic consumption is generally considered safe. Beyond some cases of allergic contact dermatitis from surgical patches containing mastic, there are hardly any reports of notable side effects. High doses have also been well tolerated in clinical trials.2
This safety profile is consistent across decades of clinical work. A 1984 controlled trial on duodenal ulcers found mastic was well tolerated with no side effects.3 A 2007 study on Crohn’s disease patients reported no side effects in any participant or control.4 A 2009 pilot study on H. pylori found all patients tolerated mastic well with no serious adverse events.5 And a 2024 study on diabetic gastroparesis found mastic provided sustained symptom improvement with no obvious significant adverse effects.6
Health-related side effects are rare
Across decades of research, study groups consistently report that mastic is safe for consumption and for chewing. There are very few health-related side effects of mastic, if any at all.
The only documented oral side effects of chewing mastic have been upset stomachs and constipation, but even these experiences are rare.
For full in-depth overviews, check out our general information article and our mastic safety guide.
Who should be extra cautious
People with existing TMJ disorders, significant dental work, active GI conditions, and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding should take extra care and consideration.
Chewing hard gum could potentially aggravate existing TMJ symptoms, so anyone with a diagnosed TMJ disorder should consult their provider before starting mastic.
Those with extensive dental work should also be very careful when chewing mastic. Because the resin is harder and stickier than normal gum, people have warned that fillings and crowns are more susceptible to being pulled out when chewing.
Mastic may also impact people with active GI conditions. While mastic does have a variety of gut health benefits, everyone reacts to mastic differently so people with a sensitive gut or existing gut issues might experience worsened discomfort or pain. Mastic may also interfere with prescribed medication regimens and make GI symptoms worse or cause additional reactions when combined, so be sure to check with your doctor before starting mastic.
There is very little information on the relationship between mastic gum and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Since we don’t know exactly how mastic gum could impact the health and development of newborn babies, the safest options for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding would be to either stay away from mastic or consult a health professional for next steps.
When to stop chewing
To be clear, there are no research-backed publications that say exactly when you should stop chewing mastic. The following practical decision guide stems from TMJ literature, exercise medicine principles, and GI guidance. It is not a clinical protocol.
Jaw pain and dental concerns
If it physically hurts you to chew mastic gum, you should definitely consider stopping for the time being.
Symptoms around the surrounding jaw area are also cause for concern, especially if they are consistent and recurring when you chew. These include:
- joint tenderness
- jaw stiffness and/or locking
- clicking or popping sounds when moving your mouth
- pain or sensitivity of the teeth
- vulnerable dental work (crowns or fillings)
- misaligned bite
If you believe that chewing mastic may make any of these symptoms worse, take a break from mastic.
Gut pain
If you experience sharp stomach pains, you should stop chewing immediately. Mild gut discomfort symptoms (like upset stomachs or frequent gas) are very different from sharp, stabbing, or burning sensations.
Discomfort signals the body’s adaptation to mastic, while pain may be signs of a more serious condition (in which case you may want to see your medical professional to discuss the situation).
What are the main side effects from chewing mastic gum?
Soreness of the jaw muscles, GI symptoms (rare, but possible), and conflicts with dental work are the biggest side effects to watch out for.
Is jaw soreness normal after chewing mastic gum?
Yes, sore jaw muscles are common and completely normal after chewing mastic, especially for people who are new to mastic gum. People who chew mastic for long durations of time will also likely experience jaw soreness, due to overuse of the jaw muscles and the natural hardness/resilience of mastic resin.
Does mastic gum cause TMJ?
No, chewing mastic gum does not cause TMJ. While overuse of mastic can contribute to tight jaws (which specialists say many people mistake to be TMJ), no research shows that mastic directly causes it.
For some people, mastic can actually do the opposite and improve TMJ symptoms, as chewing helps strengthen the jaw muscles and can improve stability in the surrounding joints.
Are there any digestive side effects that come from chewing mastic gum? How do I deal with them?
While GI side effects are rare, they are possible. Mild symptoms like upset stomach, constipation, and unusual gas can occur. Stomach discomfort is generally due to the body adapting to mastic and usually dissipates after the body adapts to become familiar with it. Discomfort is different from pain, so if you experience sudden or sharp stomach pains, you should stop immediately.
Can I chew mastic if I have dental work?
This varies from person to person, so talk with your dentist to discuss whether or not chewing mastic would be appropriate for you and use your best personal judgement. If you decide to chew, prioritize the softer pieces from the tin to create a softer chewing experience. This will help to lower the risk of damaging existing dental work.
Is mastic gum safe to chew?
Yes, mastic gum is safe to chew. Research supports mastic gum as being safe to consume, with very few side effects and no health-related issues.25
When should I stop chewing mastic?
You should stop chewing mastic if you consistently experience:
- Physical pain
- Joint tenderness
- Jaw stiffness and/or locking
- Clicking or popping sounds when moving your mouth
- Feelings of structural grinding misaligned bite
- Sharp, searing, or intense gut pains
For more information on chewing, check out our guide on proper chewing technique.
References
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Shaw, Daniel Woodson. “Contact Dermatitis from Gum Mastic (Pistacia lentiscus) and Gum Storax (Liquidambar styraciflua) in Mastisol-Allergic Patients,” Dermatitis 32, no. 6 (2021): 430–436, doi.org. ↩
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Soulaidopoulos, Stergios, Aikaterini Tsiogka, Christina Chrysohoou, et al. “Overview of Chios Mastic Gum (Pistacia lentiscus) Effects on Human Health.” Nutrients 14, no. 3 (2022): 590. doi.org. PMID 35276949; PMCID PMC8838553. ↩ ↩2
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M. J. Al-Habbal, Z. Al-Habbal, and F. U. Huwez, “A Double-Blind Controlled Clinical Trial of Mastic and Placebo in the Treatment of Duodenal Ulcer,” Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology 11 (1984): 541–544, doi.org. ↩
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Andriana C. Kaliora, et al., “Chios Mastic Treatment of Patients with Active Crohn’s Disease,” World Journal of Gastroenterology 13, no. 5 (2007): 748–753, doi.org. ↩
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Konstantinos J. Dabos, et al., “The Effect of Mastic Gum on Helicobacter pylori: A Randomized Pilot Study,” Phytomedicine 17, nos. 3–4 (2010): 296–299, doi.org. ↩ ↩2
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Ravi Kant, et al., “Real-World Safety and Effectiveness of Pistacia lentiscus (Mastic Gum) in Patients with Diabetic Gastroparesis: 24-Week Interim Analysis Postintervention,” Indian Journal of Pharmacology 56, no. 1 (2024): 4–9, doi.org. ↩