# Does chewing gum ever give you a headache?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-chewing-gum-ever-give-you-a-headache/659165>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 23, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-chewing-gum-ever-give-you-a-headache/659165 "2013-05-23T20:56:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-chewing-gum-ever-give-you-a-headache/659165/1 "2013-05-23T20:56:47Z")

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Sometimes it does for me. Kinda strange. I just had a piece a few minutes ago and had to spit it out because now my head is pounding.

The gum was Wrigley’s Extra Spearmint.

Usually, I’ll get a doozy of a headache if I have that cheap, sugary gum (the cheap pink stuff that gets thrown in with other crap candy in those cheap, no name variety packs).

So, anyone else like this, or am I the only freak?

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**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2013, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-chewing-gum-ever-give-you-a-headache/659165/2 "2013-05-23T21:18:41Z")

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What I’m at the high hormonal points of my cycle, and when I’m pregnant, artificial sweeteners give me pounding headaches just like you describe. No chewing gum, no flavored yogurt, no diet Coke during those times.

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2013, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-chewing-gum-ever-give-you-a-headache/659165/3 "2013-05-23T23:51:20Z")

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That’s what happens when you leave it on the bedpost overnight.

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**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-chewing-gum-ever-give-you-a-headache/659165/4 "2013-05-24T03:19:07Z")

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It only gives me a headache if I have to hear someone chew it!

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**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-chewing-gum-ever-give-you-a-headache/659165/5 "2013-05-24T05:27:36Z")

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If anything, it’s the opposite for me. When I am nervous, anxious or just tense, I clench my jaw. That gives me a headache. If I chew some gum, I can’t clench. No headache.

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**Author:** ![OleOneEye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f14d63/32.png) [@OleOneEye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OleOneEye)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-chewing-gum-ever-give-you-a-headache/659165/6 "2013-05-24T05:30:15Z")

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> [@RealityChuck](#):
>
> That’s what happens when you leave it on the bedpost overnight.

Darn you! _shakes fist_

I opened this thread just to post that - _and you got here first_. 😛