Have you ever watched a professional baseball game? Many of the players have a big wad of chewing gum while they play? Is this safe? Is it healthy? As a matter of fact it is! Chewing gum has many health benefits.
Many ancient cultures chewed gummy substances. The Mayans and Aztecs chew chicle to clean teeth, fight hunger, quench thirst and rid bad breath.
Dental Benefits for Chewing Gum
Chewing gum can be good for your teeth. That is right. Even dentists will tell you that sugarless gum can increase saliva. Saliva can help wash away bacteria and acids that build up on your teeth. Removing bacteria can help prevent cavities.
Chewing gum can also help remove food particles after eating.
Gum can also freshen your breath. Had garlic, onions or spicy food for lunch? A nice piece of gum can help rid your breath of lingering odors. Your friends and coworkers will appreciate it.
Gum chewing can also help with dry mouth. Again it goes back to an increase in saliva when you chew gum.
Chewing Gum Can Speed Surgical Recovery
Chewing gum helps stimulate bowel functions. Studies show that people who have had stomach or colon surgeries recover faster when they chew gum after surgery. Bowel function is often a requirement before you can be discharged from the hospital.
Decrease Heartburn Through Gum Chewing
The increased saliva from chewing gum can help balance gastric acids and ease acid reflux, and help with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Eliminate Nausea
Saliva production helps neutralize stomach acid and can help eliminate motion sickness, and morning sickness.
If you are on an airplane gum chewing can help keep your ears popping from pressure changes.
Lessen Stress and Improve Attention with a Stick of Gum
Chewing gum increases focus, reduces stress and anxiety.
Remember those baseball players working away at their gum while they play? Well gum chewing has been shown to fight sleepiness and help you stay alert.
Chewing gum boosts blood flow to your brain and can improve memory. MRI Studies back this up.
Lose Weight by Chewing Gum
Do you eat while you watch TV? What happens is you start to associate TV watching with eating and you will want to eat even when you aren’t hungry. This excess snacking can lead to weight problems. So if you are trying to lose weight, do not eat while you watch TV. Keeping your mouth busy chewing gum can help you lose weight and break this habit. Chew gum instead of plow through a bag of chips.
You do burn calories when you chew gum, about 11 calories per hour. No that isn’t much, but combined with how it may help you from snacking you could lose some weight.
Click here to find out how many calories you can burn doing over 100 activities!
Gum Can Help You Stop Smoking
Smoking is not healthy and should be avoided and stopped whenever possible. Nicotine gum can help with cravings and just chewing can help keep your mouth busy and distracted from wanting a cigarette.
Takeaway
There are many health benefits to chewing gum. Gum chewing can improve oral health, increase alertness, lessen anxiety and reduce hunger.
Do not chew gum if you suffer with TMJ or headaches. Gum chewing seems to worsen these two conditions.
Sources:
https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-to-know-about-chewing-gum
https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/selecting-dental-products/5-benefits-of-chewing-gum#
https://greatist.com/health/benefits-of-chewing-gum#health-benefits
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/smi.2872
https://www.ada.org/resources/research/science-and-research-institute/oral-health-topics/chewing-gum
https://examine.com/nutrition/does-chewing-gum-have-health-benefits/