The ingredients in chewing gum are generally safe for people to consume, and the act of chewing may have both mental and physical health benefits. However, some people may experience jaw pain or headaches from chewing.
Chewing gum is a soft, rubbery substance that’s designed to be chewed but not swallowed.
People have been chewing gum in various forms for thousands of years. The first gums were made from the sap of trees, such as spruce or Manilkara chicle.
However, most modern chewing gums are made from synthetic rubbers. All ingredients used in the processing of chewing gum have to be “food grade” and classified as fit for human consumption.
This article explores the health benefits and potential risks of chewing gum.
Most chewing gum manufacturers keep their exact recipes a secret. They often refer to their specific combination of gum, resin, filler, softeners, and antioxidants as their “gum base.”
Recipes can vary among brands, but all chewing gums have the following basic ingredients:
- Gum: This is the nondigestible, rubbery base used to give gum its chewy quality.
- Resin: This is usually added to strengthen gum and hold it together.
- Fillers: Fillers, such as calcium carbonate or talc, are used to give gum texture.
- Preservatives: These are added to extend shelf life. The most popular choice is an organic compound called butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT).
- Softeners: These are used to retain moisture and prevent the gum from hardening. They can include waxes like paraffin or vegetable oils.
- Sweeteners: Cane sugar, beet sugar, and corn syrup are popular sweeteners. Sugar-free gums use sugar alcohols such as xylitol or artificial sweeteners such as aspartame.
- Flavorings: Natural or synthetic flavorings are added to give gum the desired taste.
In general, chewing gum is considered safe. However, some types of chewing gum contain small amounts of ingredients that are controversial.
This includes:
- butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
- titanium dioxide
- aspartame
- color additives
Even in these cases, the amounts are generally much lower than the amounts considered to cause harm.
Studies have found that chewing gum while performing tasks can improve various aspects of brain function, including alertness, memory, understanding, and decision making.
Experts don’t fully understand how chewing gum improves memory. One theory is that this improvement is due to increased blood flow to the brain caused by chewing gum.
Studies have also found that chewing gum may reduce stress and increase feelings of alertness.
This could be due to the act of chewing, which has been linked to reduced levels of stress hormones such as cortisol.
Chewing gum could be a helpful tool for those trying to lose weight. This is because it’s both sweet and low in calories, giving you a sweet taste without negatively affecting your diet.
Some research also suggests that chewing gum
However, more research is needed to determine whether chewing gum leads to a difference in weight over the long term.
Chewing sugar-free gum could help protect your teeth from cavities.
It’s better for your teeth than regular, sugar-sweetened gum. This is because sugar feeds the “bad” bacteria in your mouth, which can damage your teeth.
Furthermore, chewing gum after a meal increases saliva flow. This helps wash away harmful sugars and food debris, both of which feed bacteria in your mouth.
While chewing gum has some potential benefits, chewing too much gum could cause some unwanted side effects.
Sugar-free gums contain laxatives
The sugar alcohols used to sweeten sugar-free gum can sometimes have a laxative effect when consumed in large amounts. This means that chewing lots of sugar-free gum could cause digestive distress and diarrhea.
Sugar-sweetened gum is bad for your dental and metabolic health
Chewing gum sweetened with sugar can be bad for your teeth.
This is because sugar is digested by the bacteria in your mouth, causing an increase in plaque on your teeth and leading to tooth decay over time.
Chewing gum too often could cause problems with your jaw
Constant chewing can lead to a jaw problem called temporomandibular disorder (TMD), which causes pain when chewing.
Although this condition is rare, some studies have found a link between excessive chewing and TMD.
If you like chewing gum, it’s best to choose a sugar-free gum made with xylitol.
The main exception to this rule is for people with IBS. Sugar-free gum contains FODMAPs, which can cause digestive problems in people with IBS.
Those who can’t tolerate FODMAPs should choose a gum sweetened with a low calorie sweetener such as stevia.
Make sure to read the ingredient list on your gum to confirm that it doesn’t contain any ingredients you have an intolerance to. Check in with a dentist or dietitian for help deciding which type of gum is best for you.
The ingredients in chewing gum have been established as safe for human consumption. In fact, the act of chewing may have surprising benefits for mental and physical health.
However, some people may experience adverse side effects, such as jaw pain, when chewing gum. If you know this habit causes you problems, it’s best to limit your chewing. Otherwise, a stick or two of gum between meals isn’t a bad idea.