Since the time of the ancient Greeks, humans have chewed gum, according to Beemans Chewing Gum. In both ancient Greek and early Native American cultures, chewing gum was made with resin from trees. The first modern chewing gum was patented in 1869. Today, many brands make sugar-free gum, which causes less damage to teeth than gum that contains sugar.
Ingredients
Most sugar-free gum is made primarily from gum base and sorbitol, along with other ingredients such as maltitol and glycerol, and natural and artificial flavors, according to Wrigley, the world's largest manufacturer of chewing gum. Gum made with sugar also contains gum base, but instead of artificial sweeteners, sugar and corn syrup are used as sweetening ingredients.
Calories
Most sugar-free gum contains 5 calories or less per piece, while sugared gum contains a little more, according to both Wrigley and Trident, two major manufacturers of gum. Freedent, for example, contains 10 calories per piece, as do Big League Chews. Some Hubba Bubba bubblegum varieties have 20 to 25 calories per piece.
Carbohydrates
Some varieties of Hubba Bubba gum contains 5 to 6 grams of carbs, or 2 percent of your daily value. All carb grams in the gum are from sugar. Big League Chews contain 2 grams of carbs, also from sugar. Sugar-free gum contains approximately 2 grams of carbs, which are comprised of 2 grams of sugar alcohol, not actual sugar.
Gum for Weight Loss
According to Wrigley, chewing gum can help you lose weight. Researchers at the University of Rhode Island found that people who chewed gum in the morning consumed an average of 68 calories less than their norm at lunchtime, according to Wrigley. Researchers from Louisiana State University and the Pennington Biomedical Research Center found that chewing Extra sugar-free gum reduced the test subjects' afternoon snack intake by 40 calories.
Gum for Oral Health
According to Wrigley, chewing gum helps activate your body's most powerful weapon against cavities and tooth decay: saliva. Gum helps neutralize plaque, fight cavities and strengthen tooth enamel. Children who chew gum after meals eat 40 percent fewer calories than children who don't chew gum.
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