Q: Mint gum is the only thing that helps me cope with the working day. So much chewing gum is bad for my health?
Do you usually chew gum regularly? You are not alone. In a study conducted in 2019 with more than 3000 adolescents and adults from the United States, 62 percent said there were Massed gum in the last six months; On average, they chew approximately one gum a day.
Experts claim that chewing gum can affect several parts of the body, both positively and negatively.
The possible benefits
Best oral health. Chewing a gum stimulates saliva production, which can protect the teeth From erosion neutralizing the acidity of the mouth, said Peter Arsenault, a dentist and professor at the Tufts University Faculty.
Like brushing, the mouth gum movement can also eliminate remains of food and plate of the teeth and around the gums, Arsenault said. Additional saliva, he added, can also improve your breath, because bad breath worsens with dry mouth.
Sugar -free alternatives are usually better for teeth than those made with sugar, which feeds bacteria that can cause caries. Chewing gum made with xylitol sugar substitute can provide additional dental benefits, because they are able to reduce bacteria that cause caries in your mouth. In a meta -analysis made in 2022 with 30 studies, the researchers discovered that chewing chewing gum with xylitol (or eating sweets with xylitol) three to five times a day after eating could reduce the risk of caries by 17 percent.
Less stomach acidity. Gastroenterologist Aditi Stanton, from Cincinnati, said that when swallowing, additional saliva of chewing rubber can help neutralize the acid in the esophagus, which reduces the symptoms of stomach acidity. There are few research on the subject, but in a study conducted in 2005 with 31 people prone to reflux, researchers discovered that chewing sugar -free gum for 30 minutes after having eaten foods that caused acidity led to a reduction in acid levels in the esophagus.
It improves cognition and reduces stress. More investigations are still needed, but some limited evidence suggests that chewing gum can help some people concentrate and learn. In a study conducted in 2018 with 40 adults, the researchers discovered that those who chewed gum while they were presented with physiology lessons obtained better results in subsequent exams than those who did not.
Other tests suggest that chewing chewing mood could improve and relieve stress, at least in the short term, similar to the way in which some people agitate their legs or tangle their hair when they are nervous, said Jenna Watson, a therapist from Orlando, Florida, who focuses on stress and exhaustion.
Researchers do not know what reason could be, but there is evidence that chewing gum can activate several parts of the brain by increasing blood flow to those regions.
The possible inconveniences
Jaw problems. Chew gum can aggravate the jaw problems of people who are prone to have conditions or injuries in the temporomandibular joint (ATM), which connects the jaw with the skull, Arsenault explained. This includes those who grind or squeeze their teeth. Chew chewing can tire the muscles of the jaw and cause clicks, crunch, headaches and facial muscle fatigue, he said.
To balance the benefits for oral health with the possible mandibular problems, Arsenault recommends chewing gum only for short periods of time after eating; Let’s say 15 to 20 minutes. However, if you have an ATM injury or disorder, you may have to avoid chewing gum, he added.
Digestive problems Although for some people mask a gum can relieve the symptoms of acid reflux, for others it can even worsen themStanton said. In some cases, chewing chew can relax the lower esophageal sphincter, a muscle located at the bottom of the esophagus that prevents the acid from entering. When acid enters the esophagus, it can cause acidity symptoms.
When someone chews gum, especially if it does it energetic or quickly, they can also swallow air without realizing it, which can cause swelling, gases and belching, said Stanton. Common sugar substitutes in gum, such as xylitol and sorbitol, “can have similar effects to laxatives,” he added, increasing the risk of developing diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramps or swelling.
Exposure to microplastics. Many gum are manufactured using plastics such as polyethylene and polyvinyl acetate, Arsenault said. This helps to give them elasticity. Although more research is needed, a study recently presented at a conference discovered that these plastics can be released in our mouths, although it is not clear how this affects health, said Katrina Korfmacher, environmental health researcher at the Medical Center of the University of Rochester.
The new study suggests that most of these plastics are released from gum in a few minutes, so if you tend to spit the gum as soon as it loses its flavor and start with a new one, it could be better that you continue with the same as long as you can.
And, Korfmacher added, to take care of the environment, “make sure you don’t throw it to the ground.”