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There is a viral video going around that repeats a claim I've heard before about getting a light bulb stuck in your mouth

The bulb shape allows it to be put into the mouth, but taking it out is problematic.

Graphic reads,

The bulb shape allows it to be put into the mouth, but taking it out is problematic.

Central to the claim seems to be the jaw muscles clenching up. Is there any actual work debunking this claim. I've always wanted to put a light bulb in my mouth and I'm wondering if it is a bad idea.

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    Note the end of the video: Avoid experimenting! I would recommend you don't stick things that aren't meant to go in your mouth into your mouth. :)
    – user40197
    May 10, 2017 at 2:57
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    The first issue is there are many sizes for lightbulbs.
    – Oddthinking ♦
    May 10, 2017 at 2:58
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    I don't suppose a magic act counts as evidence, but it does highlight the question of sizes.
    – Oddthinking ♦
    May 10, 2017 at 3:03
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    The A19 is 60mm or 2.375 inches wide at it's widest point.
    – user11643
    May 10, 2017 at 3:23
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    "Most studies show that the maximum jaw range of motion (ROM) or maximum mouth opening (MMO) is related to body size and height. So men can usually open wider than women, taller people more than shorter people. In studies, MMO for adults has generally been around 50 mm, with a range from 32mm to 77mm." Source. I know original research is not allowed, but I'd say a large chunk of people can't even fit the bulb in their mouth in the first place.
    – user11643
    May 10, 2017 at 3:25

1 Answer 1

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While it's a bad idea to put fragile glass objects in your mouth, the primary assertion here is clearly false.

First of all, there are at least five different YouTube videos where people try it out and have no problems. Here is one that includes various sizes and shapes.

Secondly, if this were possible, it is likely that cases would appear in the medical literature, but they don't. It is not difficult to find documented cases of light bulbs stuck in people's rectums, of children swallowing small LEDs and so on. Here is a dataset of nearly 2000 light-bulb related mouth injuries presented at hospitals. While only some descriptions are available and all of them are brief, they are just burns, cuts and the like. None of the available descriptions mention one getting "stuck".

EDIT: To be clear, cuts from light bulbs in the mouth don't necesserily imply that the bulb was stuck. Here are typical descriptions of the injuries.

  • 2 [year old male] BIT A LIGHT BULB AT HOME. PATENTS GOT SOME PIECES FROM MOUTH. DX-ABRASIONS MOUTH.
  • 19 [month old male] BIT LIGHT BULB IT BROKE, HIT MOUTH. DX MOUTH CONTUSION
  • 2 [year old male] PLAYING W/ A LIGHT BULB WHEN HE PLACED IT IN MOUTH, LIGHT BULB BROKE. GLASS CUT PTS LIPS. DX MOUTH LAC
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    I briefly search for medical literature about light bulbs stuck in the mouth as well and could not find anything. Also light bulbs stuck in the rectum I did find.
    – user11643
    May 10, 2017 at 18:52
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    Cuts to the mouth from a lightbulb might mean one was stuck at some point.
    – user36688
    May 10, 2017 at 19:22
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    @notstoreboughtdirt Not necessarily... I'll edit to add some sample descriptions.
    – Brian Z
    May 10, 2017 at 20:09
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    @notstoreboughtdirt That's pure speculation unless you can find an explicit case.
    – Brian Z
    May 11, 2017 at 12:51
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    Old saying: Clever men learn from their mistakes. Wise men learn from other people's mistakes.
    – gnasher729
    Jan 5, 2020 at 22:18

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