A TMJer bubbled (Bubble Gum Weekend)

Looks like the bubble gum doctor was right: Bubble gum appears to be a legitimate treatment for TMJ disorder - or temporomandibular joint dysfunction, as Wikipedia calls it.

Of course I have TMJ disorder, because everybody does. You have it too, because you exist. Honestly, do you know anyone who doesn't have it?

The Internet teems with articles about how you shouldn't chew bubble gum if you have TMJ disorder - like there's a law against it. Indeedity-doodledy, you're not supposed to eat anything. No bagels. No burgers. No pizza. All are considered too chewy. But everyone ignores this advice. Plus, after I consumed that entire pretzel at Ploptoberfest at the height of a flare-up, I think bubble gum is pretty safe.

Organizers of a baseball-themed bubble gum blowing contest seem to think so too...

http://www.baseballreliquary.org/2016/10/bazaar-baseball-october-15-2016

This contest had a special category for TMJers who could blow the biggest bubble. Contestants agreed to waive legal action against sponsors if all this beegee bustin' tore up their jaw. However, it's unclear how organizers knew whether someone had TMJ disorder. Did they require a doctor's note? Or did they just wait for them to make that kick-ass clicking sound with their jaw?

The woman who won the TMJ category is pictured in several photos on that website, but she's not wearing her glasses in the pictures that show her bubbling. This is unfortunate indeed, because the prospect of a person blowing a bubble that bursts and covers the lens of their specs is uproarious. But at least she won a prize!

We TMJers can work that gum like a gummer (as an intelligent person would say).