Depending on who’s chomping,chewing gumcan be seen as a lifestyle or a habit. But could all that gum chewing actually be good for you?
Whether you’re a Stride Stan or a Doublemint devotee, there are actually some legit benefits of chewing gum.
What are the benefits of chewing gum?
There is some evidence that chewing gum has benefits like:
Gum gets weird: What’s it actually made of?
You thought that gum under your fifth grade desk was old? Chewing gum is likely anancient practicethat started with folks chewing gum made from tree sap.
Today, chewing gum is made from these (mostly) man-made ingredients:
9 health benefits of chewing gum
It probably seems odd that chewing on a bunch of food-grade synthetic ingredients could be good for you. But science shows a number of ways certain ingredients and the actual chewing part may help your health.
1. Reduces stress
Ever reached for gum during a marathon study sesh — or an actualmarathon? It might be because chewing helps lowerstresslevels. Asmall research reviewof 20 studies on chewing gum and stress found evidence that gumreduced stressfor people in work and educational settings.
In astudyof 100 students, researchers found evidence to support that chewing gum before exams helped students’ stress and test scores.
2. Boosts memory
Chewing gum has been linked to better cognition and memory, and astudywith magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests found that chewing gum activates the part of the brain associated with memory.
But experts said further research is needed to determine whether chewing gum could prevent memory loss orimprove memoryin people with brain injury.
3. Improves oral health
Chewing gumcan actually be good for your teeth (just make sure it’s sugar-free!). Chewingsugar-free gumafter you eatcan help clean food off your teeth, increase salivation to fight plaque, and rebuild enamel.
There’s also evidence gum containing xylitol (asugar alcoholused to sweeten gum) changes the bacteria in your mouth. In asmall studywith 70 Japanese men, researchers evaluated the effect of chewing gum with xylitol on microorganisms in the men’s saliva. The group who chewed gum with xylitol had a significantly lower number of bacteria in their saliva than the control group.
4. Prevents ear infections
Yeah chewing gum can help pop your ears on an airplane, but it’s actually the ingredients, not the act of chewing, that may help ear infections.
Remember that sugar alcohol xylitol? Xylitol has actually been studied as a preventative for ear infections in children. Whether given to kids in a chewing gum, lozenge, or syrup, aresearch reviewfound that xylitol seemed to help prevent bacterial infections viaStreptococcus pneumoniaeandHaemophilus influenzaethat can lead to inner ear infections. But researchers also noted we need larger studies to know for sure, and it only seemed to benefit already healthy kiddos.
5. Helps you quit smoking
Though a regular piece of Hubba Bubba may keep your mouth occupied while you’requitting cigarettes, there are better gums for the job.
A 2013 research review showed that nicotine replacement therapy, which includes the use of nicotine gum, is80 percentmore effective at helping people quit smoking than the placebo. Using two forms of nicotine replacement therapy is even more effective.
6. Helps your gut heal after surgery
Abdominal surgery can be rough on yourdigestion. There’s evidence that chewing gum can kick-start yoursluggish bowels.
According to asmall research reviewof 10 studies (including 1,659 participants), chewing gum improved the recovery of intestinal function after having a cesarean delivery, commonly referred to as a C-section. Chewing gum also seems to help people recover fromcolon surgery.
7. Relieves heartburn
Pop some gum after meals to ease indigestion and the dreadedburn. Because chewing gum increases the flow ofsaliva, it can help wash down digestive acid and improve reflux symptoms.
8. Satisfies your thirst
There’s no substitute fordrinking water,and chewing gum won’t actually improve your body’shydration. But there is some evidence that it can make you feel less thirsty in a pinch.
Asmall research reviewof 12 studies found that the increase in saliva from chewing gum helped relieve thirst and dry mouth. Still, keep drinking thatH20.
9. Helps you see more clearly
OK, we’ll be honest. We need more info to prove the chewing gum and sight connection. But in asmall studywith 46 adults, researchers found that chewing gum improved eye focus.
You’ll still want to reach for yourglassesinstead of a pack of gum.
Are there any drawbacks to chewing gum?
Many sugar-free chewing gums earn theADA Seal of Acceptance, which means it is considered safe by dentists.
But always check those ingredients! Chewing gum with sugar may increase the risk of cavities, so sugar-free gum is a better bet for your chompers.
Gum containing acids like citric acid may also lower plaque pH and help erode enamel.Sugar alcoholslike xylitol may also cause digestive distress if consumed in large amounts (so probs don’tswallow that gum).
How to choose the best chewing gum
Here are some tips for picking the best gum for you:
The takeaway
Chewing sugar-free gum is basically harmless and might have some health benefits, like improving digestion and lowering stress levels. At the very least, it helps keep your teeth clean and your mouth healthy.
