EATING CHEWING GUM- PROS AND CONS

Chewing gum is a product that existed throughout modern human history. It is believed that the first chewing gum was created with the use of birch bark tar more than 6000 years ago. Chicle is another natural tree gum used by the Aztecs and Mayas. Mastic gum was chewed by the Ancient Greeks that were made from mastic tree resin. EATING CHEWING GUM- PROS AND CONS

In the middle of the 19^th century, modern chewing gum was developed in the United States. In New England, the settlers observed local tribes chewing resin made from sap harvested from the local spruce trees. Many people copied this practice. The first commercialized chewing gum product was sold in 1848.

Let us take a look at the pros and cons of Chewing Gum.

Pros of Chewing Gum.

1. Resolves destructive breath issues.

In the mouth, chewing gum creates extra saliva that works to reduce the number of bacteria found in the mouth. Chewing gum gives a sweeter breath than someone who is not chewing gum. You smell the flavor profile of the sugar in the gum and chewing it, and it changes the composition of a person’s breath with the reduction in bacteria.

2. Aids in weight loss

One of the leading causes of obesity is boredom. When a person feels bored, they resolve their mindlessness by chewing on something. The act of chewing brings a comfort mechanism to the gums. For some people, chewing gum can be replaced with the chewing action needed while eating food, which might reduce the urge to snack or dine in unhealthy proportions. Chewing gum enables the desire to eat and reduces the appetite of a person.

3. Helps with Heartburn Issues.

Chewing gum produces extra saliva, which is an added benefit. When a person swallows chewing gum, the saliva works to balance out stomach acid levels. When it begins to creep out, it helps to push acid back into the stomach and prevent heartburn. When a person chews gum for 30 minutes, they can experience heartburn relief for up to 3 hours. For best results, try chewing a pack of sugar-free gum.

4. Helps to Fight Tooth Decay

Xylitol is a type of sugarless gum. Even dentists suggest chewing gums, lollipops, and hard candies made with this sweetener.

Xylitol slows the growth of specific bacteria in the mouth that might affect the cavities. When a person chews the gum containing Xylitol, the bacteria are prevented from sticking to the enamel of your teeth. Some people have calcium lactate in the gum, then the mineral health of your teeth will get a secondary boost.

5. Easy Affordable

The average price for a standard package of chewing gum is available at a reasonable price. This makes it easy for people to reap the benefit derived from this product. The average person in the United States chews about 170 sticks of gum per year, meaning that they can benefit from the product. Diary-free, sugar-free, or gluten-free are health-specific gums.

6. Increases Personal Productivity

The activity of chewing a pack of chewing gum keeps your mind focused on the task which must be completed. For students, this act is highly beneficial as it reduces the distractions of non-productive activities. The whole chewing process provides help with information retention, improves short-term memory and recall, and sometimes reduces stress and anxiety that they may feel. The chewing of sugar-free gum even enables stimulating an increased level of brain activity.

7. Fun activity

Besides the health benefits, chewing gum is a fun-filled activity. People feel good when they chew gum. Children like to blow bubbles with gum, which is quite entertaining. The cost of chewing gum is less, and the benefit it provides is numerable along with the personal entertainment it gives us today.

Cons of Chewing Gum

1. Leads to Tooth Decay

Chewing gum contains high levels of sugar. Chewing sugared gum regularly encourages bacterial growth in and around your teeth and gums, even though the extra saliva works to reduce the number of bacteria. The additional sugar exposure to the teeth can lead to premature tooth decay, oral health issues, and gum diseases. Chewing gum may even cause direct tooth damage to people with weak or failing teeth.

2. People may bite their Tongue by mistake

Biting of the Tongue can be a harrowing experience, and most of us might have experienced it. Regularly biting of Tongue can lead to changes in the tissues of the Tongue itself and damage it. Continuous damage can create pigmentation issues and keratinization. Some people who bit their Tongue regularly can see white tissues’ appearance on the sides of their Tongue.

3. Risk of a higher level of blood sugar.

Chewing gums come with artificial sweeteners, and hence there is direct exposure to sugar and thus the risk of tooth decay due to the sugared gum. Chewing sugar-free foods might cause stomach discomfort. Consuming just 2-3 artificially sweetened products or chewing two to three artificially sugar-free gum can be enough to increase symptoms for an average person.

4. Causes Bloating

In some individuals, chewing gum causes bloating issues. The reason is that while you are chewing a piece of gum, you swallow mote of your saliva. You are also consuming the air that hits your digestive tract and begins to interact with the bacteria there. Stomach distension may occur if you swallow enough air, which can be painful. If you are in the habit of chewing a lot of chewing gum during the day, they eat a high-fiber snack or suck on a piece of candy to limit the amount of air swallowed.

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5. Irritates certain Health Conditions

One of the most common irritations caused by chewing gum is Temporo Mandibular Joint Syndrome or TMJ. This condition gives painful movements and pops up within the jaw when moved—usually, the damage is caused by continuous activities of the jaw, like grinding the teeth at night. If you have a regular habit of eating chewing gum every day, it causes damage to TMJ. Chewing gum will further irritate the condition of people suffering from this condition.

6. Creates a high level of Litter

About 90% of the people do not eat chewing gum properly and throw it without chewing. Cigarette butts being. First, chewing gum is the second-most common form of Litter found in the world. In the United States, the collection and disposal of gum packaging is an expensive experience with annual costs of more than $2 million. Since chewing gum is made from synthetic plastics, it is not biodegradable. More than 250000 tons of waste is generated every year due to the habit of eating chewing gum in the U.S.

7. Disruptive to the Social Environment

Eating chewing gum is a cause of concern and highly a disruptive habit. Students get easily distracted by passing around a gum package compared to other distractions in the environment. Various noises created by chewing gum causes noise pollution, which can be a distraction for some students.

8. Loosen your Dental Work

After chewing, the chewing gum for some time, it becomes sticky. This stickiness removes some bacteria from around the teeth and gum line. Chewing gum can make a negative impact on any dental work that was done previously. Chewing gum loses the bridges, crowns, and fillings. Based on the health of the tooth and gums, it may remove some crowns and fillings. In case you are unsure of your teeth’ oral health, then discuss with your dentist to get their wise advice in this matter.

The pros and cons mentioned above of chewing gum show that it can be a healthy habit. This habit needs to be followed in moderation to reduce the risk of experiencing severe signs and symptoms. Chewing gum is not a replacement for brushing teeth, flossing, and other general care habits. Chewing gum enables you to create a happier and healthier mouth.