# Chewing with mouth open

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-with-mouth-open/961054>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 14, 2022, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-with-mouth-open/961054 "2022-03-14T21:51:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DoubleG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DoubleG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoubleG)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-with-mouth-open/961054/1 "2022-03-14T21:51:09Z")

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Is there a medical reason that someone would all of a sudden start chewing with their mouth open and talking with food in their mouth?

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**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-with-mouth-open/961054/2 "2022-03-14T21:58:48Z")

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What’s their age? I observe this sometimes in people beginning to develop dementia.

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**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-with-mouth-open/961054/3 "2022-03-14T22:24:27Z")

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Serious congestion causing problems with airflow?

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**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-with-mouth-open/961054/4 "2022-03-14T22:28:02Z")

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That wouldn’t account for the talking while eating thing though. I’m thinking some sort of regression as well, if it’s something they can’t help doing sounds like dementia, if they’re doing it on purpose it’s probably just being an asshole.

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**Author:** ![DoubleG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DoubleG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoubleG)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-with-mouth-open/961054/5 "2022-03-15T04:32:29Z")

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They are 50.

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-with-mouth-open/961054/6 "2022-03-15T08:05:30Z")

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Hearing loss can do it

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-with-mouth-open/961054/7 "2022-03-15T11:17:51Z")

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Lack of muscle tone in the face can result in older people’s mouths remaining open, with drooling, etc.

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**Author:** ![DoubleG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DoubleG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoubleG)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2022, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-with-mouth-open/961054/8 "2022-03-17T03:47:11Z")

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Thanks for the replies. Hopefull it is something minor and will stop in time.