To chew or not to chew? That is the question. What may seem like a mindless habit actually has a profound impact on your health. But how exactly does gum affect your body? Here are some surprising facts about gum you may not be aware of.
The Benefits to the Bubble:
Potential Weight Loss: Chewing a stick of sugar-free gum can suppress cravings for salty and sweet foods as well as curb appetite, which can lead to a decreased snack intake. Studies show that gum chewers consumed 68 fewer calories at lunch and did not compensate by overeating later on in the day. This is also because many of us munch mindlessly on food when we’re feeling bored, and gum replaces this without the senseless snacking. Chewing on gum tricks the mind into believing it is eating. In addition, chewing gum for one hour burns 11 calories. Though this may not seem like much at first, chewing gum for four hours a day every day of the month can burn 1,232 calories, nearly a third of a pound!
Knocks Out Bad Breath: While people may chew a piece of gum before a date thinking the minty scent will mask their breath. This is only partially true. Gum does alleviate bad breath, but it changes it rather than masks it. Chewing on a piece of gum stimulates the salivary glands to produce more saliva. This extra saliva acts as a “natural mouthwash” to get rid of food particles clinging to teeth. Since odor-causing bacteria in the mouth thrive off the sugar from leftover food particles, getting rid of their food leads to fresher breath. It also refreshes dry mouth, another cause of bad breath. If you really want to reduce the odor, try sugar-free cinnamon-flavored gum.
Soothes Heartburn: Heartburn occurs when stomach acid is regurgitated into the esophagus leaving a burning sensation in the chest. As mentioned before, chewing gum produces extra saliva that has been shown to neutralize stomach acid, thus relieving heartburn. 30 minutes of chewing sugar-free gum can provide heartburn relief for up to three hours.
Keeps Teeth Clean: Chewing sugar-free gum can reduce acids that normally demineralize tooth enamel. On top of this, the extra saliva rinses away food particles which can lead to plaque and tartar. Some sugar-free gum contains an artificial sweetener known as Xylitol, which fights tooth decay. It also prevents and stops the replication of Streptococcus mutans bacteria which sticks to tooth enamel and causes cavities. This helps you maintain your pearly whites and perfect your Picture Day smile!
The Cons to Chomping
Potential Weight Gain: Although gum can help you keep your waistline trim, that only pertains to sugar-free gum. Extra sugar from gum can pack on the pounds. In addition, mint-flavored gum contains menthol, which can make fruits and vegetables taste bitter. This may turn you off from making healthy choices on what to eat next.
Worsens Jaw Pain: Are you a right-sided chewer or a left? Though it sounds like a superfluous question, people may not realize their tendency to chew on one side of the mouth over the other. This can cause a jaw muscle imbalance and trigger temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), a chronic pain in the jaw muscles.
Aches & Pains: As mentioned above, chewing gum can worsen pain in the muscles of your jaw. Any time you overuse a set of muscles, they will remain contracted which (in the jaw) can lead to toothaches, earaches, and headaches.
Ruins Dental Work: Crowns, bridges, and braces may be loosened or even broken by sticky chewing gum. In addition, if you have mercury fillings, chewing on gum can release mercury vapor into your body. Mercury is a neurotoxin that degrades the membranes of the nervous system and can cause damage to genetic material.
Linked to Cancer: Not all sugarless gum is safe, however. Some companies use artificial sweeteners like Aspartame. Though it is approved by the Federal Drug Administration, some have suggested a link between aspartame and cancer. Even if this is false, those who are sensitive to the ingredient may experience headaches, dizziness, skin reactions, seizures, and depression. It is also toxic to those with phenylketonuria (PKU), a birth defect where the body is unable to properly digest the amino acid phenylalanine. Aspartame (which is used in medicine, diet foods, and diet sodas) contains phenylalanine, which may lead to dangerously high levels in the body of someone with PKU.
Causes Tooth Decay: The section on how gum “keeps teeth clean” is only relevant to sugarless gum. Extraneous sugar, acidic flavorings, and preservatives in gum can feed bacteria in the mouth, which in turn, can cause dental erosion.
Gastrointestinal Problems: Chewing on gum can cause you to swallow additional air, which can lead to bloating, abdominal pain, and excessive gas.
Contains Sheep Byproducts: Vegans and vegetarians, be warned. Though this is not harmful, some may find it disturbing. Chewing gum frequently contains lanolin, the waxy oil sheep produce in their wool. It is used to keep gum feeling soft. Can’t find it on the label of your pack of gum? It’s often concealed with the vague term “gum base.” Not only is it found in chewing gum, but it is also found in cosmetics, hair care, and skincare due to its emollient properties.
Next time, think twice before fishing out a pack of gum. Do the risks outweigh the benefits? Or can you hold off until lunchtime?