As a kid, you may have enjoyed blowing bubbles and cracking gum, much to the annoyance of the adults around you. As an adult, you may still chew gum as a quick breath freshener or just for enjoyment. If you are concerned that chewing gum may be harmful to your health, you can relax. In most instances, chewing gum has no adverse effects at all and may even be beneficial.
Calories in Gum
Regular gum sweetened with sugar is low in calories, unless you chew huge wads at a time. A single stick of gum has approximately 15 calories. Gum made with nonsugar sweeteners has even fewer calories. Xylitol, a sweetener that naturally occurs in many fruits and vegetables, has one-third fewer calories than sugar, according to Xylitol.org. A study conducted by the University of Rhode Island in 2009 suggests that chewing gum may suppress appetite and increase metabolism.
Gum and Dental Health
Chewing gum sweetened with sugar for at least 15 to 20 minutes washes away the sugar and stimulates the flow of saliva, according the "Journal of Dental Research." Saliva protects your teeth and gums by washing away acid from bacteria that can wear away tooth enamel. Chewing gum with Xylitol may even prevent cavities. Research conducted by the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry showed that chewing gum containing Xylitol reduced the level of plaque on test subjects' teeth by 35 percent. Chewing gum containing Xylitol or Recaldent, a form of calcium phosphate, can harden tooth enamel even when cavities have begun, MayoClinic.com states.
Chewing Gum and TMJ
The act of opening and closing your mouth would not be possible without your temporomandibular joint, or TMJ muscles. A survey conducted by "The Journal of the American Dental Association" showed that 46 percent of orthodontists and oral surgeons surveyed linked chewing gum even occasionally with TMJ problems; 65 percent of orthodontists and oral surgeons linked frequent gum chewing with TMJ problems, iVillage Pregnancy and Parenting reports. If you have problems with TMJ pain, you should probably not chew gum.
Swallowing Gum
Children suffering from constipation who swallow large amounts of gum may have intestinal blockage. However, if you occasionally accidentally swallow the gum you're chewing, you shouldn't suffer any adverse consequences, according to Michael Picco, a gastroenterologist for MayoClinic.com. Contrary to myths claiming that gum sits undigested in your stomach for years, swallowed gum passes through your digestive tract and is eliminated with normal bowel movements.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Swallowing Gum, Is It Harmful?; Michael Picco; February 2011
- MayoClinic.com: Dental Enamel, Ways to Give It a Boost; January 2010
- iVillage Pregnancy & Parenting: Chewing Gum, Is It Bad for Your Teeth?; January 1999
- UT Southwestern Medical Center: Health Watch, Gum Chewing
- American Academy of Otolaryngology: TMJ; December 2010
- Fox News: Chewing Gum May Keep Calories Off, Study Suggests; April 2009
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