Chewing Gum: Dangerous or Beneficial?
Chewing Gum: Dangerous or Beneficial?
Habit, necessity, or sweet distraction - chewing gum can often be found in our shopping cart. However, on February 5th, celebrating Chewing Gum Day, we would like to discuss whether it is more harmful or beneficial to us.
How can chewing gum be beneficial?
- Chewing gum helps quickly eliminate bad odors caused by bacteria.
- Chewing gum after a meal releases saliva, which neutralizes acids and removes unnecessary food residues.
- Chewing gum helps get rid of emotional tension. It has been found that people who chew gum in stressful situations have lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, in their blood.
How can chewing gum be dangerous?
- If the chewing gum contains sugar, your teeth will constantly "bathe" in it. This can lead to tooth decay.
- Some chewing gums do not contain sugar, but there are certain sweeteners or additives that can cause even more serious problems such as diabetes, cancer, neurological diseases.
- Chewing gum has a strong effect on the jaw muscles: extremely painful cramps, joint cracking, and tooth decay symptoms may occur. If you experience any parafunction of the jaw, chewing gum should be avoided.
We encourage you to chew gum in moderation and to choose the composition of the gum before buying it (avoid added sugar, sweeteners, or other additives). Also, it is important to brush your teeth and toothpaste at least twice a day and use interdental floss.
