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The Sticky Truth About Chewing Gum
Published by Yvelette Stines on Thursday, August 9, 2012 at 6:00 am.
Whether it’s nerves, bad breath, or just want a different taste in your mouth, chewing gum is one of the oldest and most popular activities among many people…but is the habit healthy? Board certified dentist Dr. Marc Liechtung offers facts on the good, the bad and the ugly. Be warned: these facts just might burst your bubble.
The Good:
Studies at Wrigley have shown that chewing two pieces before and after each meal not only improves a person’s short and long term memory but can help speed up a person’s metabolism by 45%!
All chewing gum is sweetened with a chemical called Xylilto, which is made to leave your mouth with an “icy” feeling, but does not raise your blood sugar like other sweeteners do.
Statistics from The Journal of the American Dental Association illustrate that approximately 1 million people in the United States suffer from dry mouth syndrome and lack of proper oral health. Chewing as little as one piece of gum per day can stimulates saliva which in turn fights cavities, neutralizes plaque acids, and washes away food particles.
The Bad:
Chewing Gum isn’t that much different from a rubber band: Both chewing gum and rubber bands are made out of the same product called chicle, which is sap from a sapodilla tree. Chicle does not dissolve which is what makes chewing gum last for so long.
According to the International Chewing Gum Association, the average person chews over 3000 sticks of gum year! Recent reports have found that excessive gum chewing can lead to a clicking or popping noise in the jaw and can easily aggravate jaw muscles.
The Ugly:
According to the International Chewing Gum Association, all sugar free gums contain the ingredient Sorbitol. Eating even three pieces of gum a day can lead to excessive amounts of Sorbitol in the system which can lead to severe abdominal pain, fructose mal absorption and in extreme cases colon cancer.
Will you continue to chew gum?
