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Chewing gum: good or bad. Chewing gum and teeth: benefit or harm Is it possible to chew gum after eating

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Chewing gum is one of the most popular confectionery products in the world used by people everywhere. As practice shows, this type of product is used from childhood and its main purpose is to clean the teeth from food debris.

How does chewing gum affect the body? Why is chewing gum harmful and what is it made of? How much and when can you use the above products? You will read about this and much more in our article.

Composition of chewing gum

Chewing gum as a functional product made from an inedible elastic base has been known since ancient times - it has been used for cleaning teeth since the Neolithic era. Depending on the region, the basis of the chewing gum itself also changed: in Greece, the resin of the mastic tree was used, the Indians used the frozen juice of hevea, in the vastness of Asia they preferred beeswax, and the inhabitants of Russia replaced the above ingredients with hard larch and pine resin.

When the production of chewing candy was commercialized, pine resin was first used as the base ingredient with the addition of various flavors. The modern "ideal" patented gummies recipe is natural rubber (20 percent), sugar (60 percent), corn syrup (19 percent), and natural flavor (1 percent).

However, the production of products according to this formula is quite expensive, therefore, there are mainly other, cheaper solutions on the mass market: synthetic polymers are used as a chewing base with a small addition of natural resins, sweeteners, synthetic flavors, preservatives and other groups of food additives.

How does chewing affect the body?

Chewing is a natural physiological process of the body, designed to grind solid food with the teeth before it enters the esophagus and stomach. If “toffee” is used as a meal replacement, an identical chewing reflex is launched, activating a number of glands and facial muscles.

The primary and main influence of chewing gum in the context of the human body is based on increased salivation, which helps to moisturize the oral cavity and clean it in a natural way.

An important contribution to this process is also made by the properties of the product itself, which mechanically captures food particles in accessible places in the dentition.

In addition, a parallel massage of the gums is carried out, and the active chewing muscles receive a uniform load, which is associated with the special plastic, physical and mechanical properties of the chewing gum. The saliva secreted during chewing enters the esophagus by reflex swallowing.

Does the process of chewing bring benefits or, on the contrary, cause negative consequences for the body? It depends on many factors: the characteristics of the individual use of chewing candy (duration, timeliness of use, and so on), the quality of the product itself, the presence of a number of diseases in a person, and so on.

Is it harmful to chew gum for adults and children and what can replace it, what will happen if you swallow the product - you will learn about this and much more later in our article.

Harm of chewing gum with constant use

Despite the fact that the main purpose of chewing gum is to clean teeth as part of complex oral hygiene and freshen breath, the vast majority of people use it just for pleasure - modern products have a pleasant aftertaste, and the chewing process itself is distracting and relaxing. Because of this important factor, chewing gum is often used excessively, sometimes on an ongoing basis, which can cause a number of problems with the body.

The most significant negative effects:

Development of gastrointestinal problems. The constant flow of saliva into the esophagus and stomach provokes the development of gastritis and ulcers;
allergic reactions. For a number of people, food additives E140 and E321, which are part of a modern product, can cause allergies in the long term;

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Increase in blood pressure and decrease in potassium levels. Licorice and licorice, which are a popular additive to modern chewing gums, provoke a change in blood pressure towards an increase and contribute to an accelerated removal of potassium from the blood;
Development of periodontitis and caries. Gum does not contain substances that would directly contribute to the above dental problems. However, constant massage of the gums while chewing the product can disrupt blood circulation in the local area, and the emphasis on the cleansing properties of the product (which is clearly indicated by numerous advertisements) makes a person use a toothbrush less often, which ultimately acts as one of the provoking factors of carious lesions.

How long can you chew gum without harm?

In order for chewing gum to be beneficial, not harmful, it is necessary to adhere to a number of rules for its use. The most important points:

Choice of gum. It is better to purchase not colorful products of bright colors with rich flavors, but simple solutions from trusted brands whose products are recommended by international dental associations;

When to apply. Chewing gum is recommended to be used after meals, not between meals. It is also worth considering that the use of chewing gum does not replace the need for regular brushing, floss paste, and mouthwash;
Terms of Use. Modern dentists recommend chewing gum for no more than five minutes, after which it is properly disposed of.

Can chewing gum be helpful?

Chewing gum, when properly used according to the above recommendations, can be beneficial. The benefits of chewing gum are as follows:

Is it possible to chew gum with gastritis?

It is well known that the regular use of chewing gum between meals on an empty stomach can cause a number of problems with the gastrointestinal tract - these are mainly dyspeptic disorders and gastritis. This pathology is formed as a result of saliva entering the esophagus and stomach, which is secreted during chewing.

Should children be allowed to use toffee?

Modern medicine does not recommend the frequent use of chewing gum by children, regardless of age. As practice shows, in the vast majority of cases, the potential benefits of products are small compared to the large risks to the health of the child - primarily due to the refusal to regularly use a toothbrush and paste, which is replaced by a tastier, but inedible product.

The lack of constant parental control (for example, being at school) creates the prerequisites for the abuse of chewing gum and, as a result, the development of many problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

The so-called "children's" chewing gum, often advertised by the media, in fact, practically does not differ from their "adult" counterparts in composition. Moreover, they contain more sweeteners and flavors, as well as synthetic dyes to attract the attention of the child.

What can replace chewing gum?

What can replace chewing gum, which alternatively provide temporary fresh breath, help clean the mouth and get rid of the habit of constantly chewing these products? There are a lot of ways to do this - it all depends on the desire and preferences of the person. Possible options:

What happens if you swallow a chewable candy?

There is an opinion among the people that accidentally or intentionally swallowed chewing gum attaches to the walls of the stomach and stays in it for several years, and if it comes out, it produces a partial or complete blockage of the intestine, causing severe dyspeptic disorders.

Fortunately, such theories have no real basis. Modern chewing gum consists of synthetic polymers with the addition of a small amount of natural resins, flavors and other secondary components.

When it enters the gastrointestinal tract, the chewing gum is completely dissolved by gastric juice in a few days, and the decay products are excreted unchanged through the rectum without any special consequences for the body as a whole and the gastrointestinal tract in particular.

However, this fact does not mean that chewing candy should be swallowed often and uncontrollably - too much of it (for example, 5-6 pieces at a time), when placed in the esophagus or stomach, can cause negative symptoms similar to classic food poisoning. In some cases, gastric lavage and even hospitalization may be required.- although such a situation is extremely rare and is usually associated with the deliberate eating of a large amount of chewing gum, up to a whole block.

Since ancient times, people have been chewing something: the ancient Greeks - the resin of the mastic tree, the Mayans - rubber, the Siberians - the resin of the larch, and in India - a mixture of aromatic leaves. All these “chewing gums” gave the breath aroma and freshness, eliminated unpleasant odors, cleaned the teeth, massaged the gums, and simply left a pleasant taste in the mouth. After the discovery of America, chewing tobacco appeared in Europe, which became very widespread.

But this is all background. And the history of chewing gum began on September 23, 1848, when the world's first factory for its production appeared. Factory founder John Curtis made a chewing mixture from the resin of coniferous trees with the addition of flavorings. But the first attempt to make chewing gum on an industrial scale was not successful. Nevertheless, it is from the founding of the factory that the history of chewing gum begins.

On June 5, 1869, an Ohio dentist patented his chewing gum recipe. And in 1871 Thomas Adams received a patent for the invention of a machine for the production of chewing gum. It is at his factory that in 17 years the famous "Tutti-frutti" will be produced - a chewing gum that has conquered all of America.

Since then, chewing gum has undergone many metamorphoses: it has changed colors and tastes, was produced in the form of balls, cubes, butterflies, etc., and has taken a very important place in the life of young people in the second half of the 20th century, and remains very popular today.

13 facts about chewing gum

1. Chewing gum helps to lose weight. American scientists have found that the process of losing weight contributes to the use of chewing gum - it speeds up the metabolism by as much as 19%.

Chewing gum also helps reduce appetite - chewing stimulates nerve endings that transmit a signal to the brain area responsible for satiety.

2. Chewing gum affects memory. There is an active debate about the effect of chewing gum on memory. So, psychologists from England found that chewing gum impairs short-term memory, which is needed for momentary orientation. A person can quickly forget the price of the goods that he just held in his hands, or lose the keys in the apartment. According to scientists, any monotonous unconscious movement adversely affects it, that is, a person becomes more distracted.

But scientists from the University of Newcastle (USA) believe that when chewing, the activity of the parts of the brain responsible for memory increases, insulin production and heart rate increase, which means that a person thinks much better. Japanese researchers came to the same conclusion. During their experiment, the act of chewing reduced the time it took subjects to complete tasks, chewers completed them 10% faster than those who did not chew gum.

3. Chewing gum is helpful. During chewing, salivation increases, which helps to clean the teeth, and gums are also massaged, which to some extent is the prevention of periodontal disease.

4. Chewing gum can be chewed for no more than 5 minutes and only after eating. These are the recommendations of the experts. If you chew gum for longer, it will lead to the release of gastric juice into an empty stomach, which contributes to the development of stomach ulcers and gastritis.

5. Chewing gum is not a substitute for brushing your teeth. Dentists are sure that it is impossible to replace a full-fledged brushing with chewing gum. And even if there is no toothbrush at hand, then it is better to replace it with water by rinsing your mouth.

6. Chewing gum does not protect against cavities. Caries does not appear on chewing surfaces, but on interdental surfaces, so there is no benefit from chewing gum to prevent this disease.

7. Chewing gum is bad for teeth. It destroys fillings, crowns and bridges. Destruction has both a mechanical effect on the teeth and a chemical one - saliva, which is formed during chewing, contributes to the formation of alkali that corrodes fillings.

8. Chewing gum helps to recover faster after operations on the large intestine. This is due to the activation of digestive hormones during chewing. So, in the UK, when treating patients after intestinal surgery, it is recommended to chew gum for 30 minutes in the morning, afternoon and evening. This helps patients return to regular food intake faster and shortens the postoperative period. This action of chewing gum is explained by the fact that when chewing, the secretory and motor activity of the intestine is reflexively stimulated.

9. The chewing gum is soothing. It is also a good remedy for stress, improves concentration. “This was proved by English scientists from Northumbria University. Chewing gum plays the role of a "simulator", allowing many to relive the most blissful moments of their lives, when they were still fed mother's milk. People switch off from anxiety, ”explains psychoanalyst Alexander Genschel.

10. Chewing gum does not help get rid of bad breath. It has such a short-term effect that in general it can be called useless.

11. The chewing gum contains a dangerous substance. Aspartame is a sweetener, the substance was invented in 1965 and still causes suspicion among doctors. The fact is that during the breakdown of aspartame, two amino acids are formed in the body - asparagine and phenylalanine, as well as a very dangerous alcohol - methanol. In certain concentrations, methanol is dangerous for pregnant women and affects the normal development of the fetus. In addition, methanol turns into carcinogenic formaldehyde.

12. Chewing gum should not be given to children and pregnant women. American neurologist John Olney proved the danger of glutamate - an amino acid and food additive that enhances taste. He discovered the phenomenon of excitotoxicity: the death of nerve cells due to their overexcitation caused by glutamate and aspartame. According to the scientist, these substances pose a great danger to the developing brain, which means during pregnancy and then until adolescence. The periods when it is definitely worth giving up chewing gum are the last 3 months of pregnancy and the first 4 years of life.

13. There was always chewing gum! Archaeologists have found pieces of prehistoric resin with imprints of human teeth in Northern Europe, which date back to the 7th-2nd millennium BC. The ancient Greeks chewed the resin of the mastic tree, the Indians - the resin of the conifers, the Mayan tribes - chikl.

What can replace chewing gum

Resin

The ancient Greeks chewed the resin of the mastic tree to freshen their breath and cleanse their mouths. The Maya used for the same purpose the frozen juice of hevea - rubber, and the North American Indians chewed the resin of coniferous trees, which they evaporated at the stake. In Siberia, larch resin is still often chewed, at first it crumbles, but then, with long chewing, it gathers into a single piece. She not only cleans her teeth, but also strengthens her gums. They also often chew the resin of cherries, pines, spruces ... But this requires very good and strong teeth. In Soviet childhood, we chewed tar - but this, of course, is the most extreme option.

Zabrus and beeswax

Since ancient times, bee products have been another natural chewing gum. Honeycomb covers - zabrus - are not so convenient to chew, because they crumble in the mouth, but they are very useful, since they also contain bee saliva, honey, and a little bee venom, with which bees seal honeycombs. In zabrus there is a high concentration of vitamins A, B, C, E, there are almost all trace elements necessary for a person and a very rare type of fat secreted by bee glands.

Coffee beans

You can freshen your breath not with chewing gum, but ... with coffee. You need to chew a few grains, this will beat off all unpleasant odors, such as garlic or alcohol. The fact is that coffee beans contain substances that destroy bacteria - the cause of unpleasant odors. In addition, small amounts of coffee are useful - invigorate and improve memory.

Mint and parsley leaves

Chewing gum is often chewed to silence the stomach for food. In fact, this is a rather harmful activity, since the use of chewing gum on an empty stomach can lead to gastritis or exacerbate existing gastric diseases. To drown out the feeling of hunger and, by the way, freshen your breath, you can chew a mint leaf or a sprig of parsley. These herbs are rich in essential oils and vitamins, they will not bring harm, but the appetite will dull.

Chewing marmalade

A sweet and healthy gum substitute is gummies. It is easy to prepare it yourself, and if you use molds or cut out figures from it, then with such marmalade you can distract the child from chewing gums in bright wrappers.

To prepare chewing marmalade, you will need fruits (apples, pears), sugar, water, vegetable or olive oil. You need to clean the fruit, turn them into a puree, boil with sugar and water. When this mass has cooled and caramelized, grease a wooden board with vegetable oil and put fruit puree on it, cover it with gauze. In summer, this mass can be placed where the sun's rays fall. After a while, cut it into slices.

Chewing gum in most cases does not contain sugar, which is positioned as an advantage. That's right, sugar consumption leads to tooth decay. But are artificial sweeteners really that good and harmless?

Natural sweeteners are almost identical in terms of calories and effects on the body to regular sugar. Synthetic ones can negatively affect internal organs, many of them are toxic.

In addition to sugar substitutes, chewing gum contains a lot of preservatives and flavors. And believe me, they have nothing to do with wild berries or bananas. Have you ever tried to ask about the composition of chewing gum?

Glycerin is considered relatively safe when used in small amounts. However, it can provoke diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Antioxidant E 320 is derived from petroleum and is banned in some countries. Negatively affects the kidneys, liver, stomach, gland, reproductive function. It may also have a carcinogenic effect.

The sweetener can cause vomiting, diarrhea, hives. It irritates the stomach and provokes kidney dysfunction. Strongly not recommended for patients with diabetes.

The sweetener aspartame causes headache, depression, anxiety, asthma, fatigue, blindness, aggressiveness, epilepsy, memory impairment. This sweetener is also not recommended for women as well. May have a teratogenic effect, ie. cause malformations in the fetus.

Children under 3 years old should not chew gum at all. It is much better to replace it with natural gummies.

The sweetener acesulfame has a carcinogenic effect. In animals, it caused tumors of the lungs, mammary gland, leukemia.

And this is not a complete list of substances that may be part of chewing gum. As you can see, there is little good in them.

What is the harmful process of prolonged chewing

When chewing gum, a large amount of saliva is released. Usually this happens when eating food, saliva softens it. In the absence of food in the oral cavity, an abundance of saliva is swallowed and enters the stomach.

Once in the stomach, saliva reduces the level of acidity. In response, the stomach begins to produce more gastric juice. This leads to peptic ulcers and gastritis, which is why you should refrain from chewing gum even on an empty stomach.

Frequent gum chewing can cause temporomandibular joint dysfunction and even malocclusion.

It may sound funny, but chewing gum is psychologically addictive. For many people, constant chewing is comforting and reassuring.

There are still benefits to the oral cavity from chewing gum. The safest option is to chew for no more than 15 minutes. Use chewing gum only for hygienic purposes, when it is really necessary.

Chewing gum has harmoniously entered the daily use of people on all continents, despite widespread rumors about its harm to human health. What caused such popularity? The commercials focus on the beneficial properties of chewing gum for teeth, but whether this is so can only be understood by analyzing the composition of the product and the effect of individual chewing gum components on the human body.

Composition of chewing gum

The birthplace of the first rubber chewing gum, patented in 1869 by W. Semple, is America. However, archaeological finds indicate that a similar product was used in ancient Greece and the Middle East, only the basis of chewing gum was not rubber, but the resin of mastic trees. Such chewing gum was sold in America, being the forerunner of modern chewing gum.

Then small pieces of pine resin were mixed with beeswax and sold in portions. Perhaps then the harm of chewing gum was invisible to those who actively used it. Without synthetic polymers, flavor enhancers, preservatives, dyes, flavors, she was much more harmless than her contemporaries.

Over the years, the range of chewing gum components has evolved to meet consumer needs and to remain competitive. So, in 1880, its composition was enriched with corn syrup and peppermint, and in 1898, Dr. E. Beeman tries to increase sales by adding pepsin powder and positioning chewing gum on the market as a remedy for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

However, there was no mention of the harmfulness of chewing gum. The version of its usefulness for teeth appeared in 1899 thanks to W. Canning, and has remained a favorite in terms of promoting trade to this day. However, the composition of the chewing gum confirms the opposite.

The threat of harm exists for both the teeth and the gastrointestinal tract. To neutralize its negative impact, it is really only knowing how much you can chew gum, what time of the day is most suitable for this.

Components

The basis of chewing gum is rubber, latex and other synthetic polymers. They make up 60% of the volume of the finished product. The negative impact of polymers on the human body has not been identified.

Glycerin (E422) - has the ability to draw water from tissues, so products with the addition of glycerin are contraindicated in people with diseases of the kidneys, cardiovascular system. The opinion that there is very little glycerin in chewing gum is true, but do not forget that it is contained in many other products: bread, sweets, cookies, marshmallows, cakes and even dairy products.

With the daily consumption of many glycerin-containing products, you can cause significant harm to health.

Butylhydroxyanisole (E320) is an antioxidant, preservative, antioxidant. The additive has been tested on animals, and the carcinogenic effect of the product was observed in large quantities. There are no such data for humans. In some cases, it acts either as an anti-cancer agent, or as a cancer-causing agent.

Citric acid (E330) - does not have a negative effect on the human body, and only large amounts, getting on the mucous membranes and skin, can cause a burn. But in chewing gum, the amount of additive is not dangerous.

The emulsifier (E322) is made on the basis of egg yolk. This supplement cannot cause serious harm to the body, but people with a tendency to allergic reactions should avoid products containing lecithin (E322).

Sweeteners:

Aspartame is a sweetener that doctors recommend completely eliminating from the diet. Regular intake of aspartame causes allergies, headaches, sleep disturbances, and a depressed mental state. Aspartame cannot be washed out of the mouth with saliva, so the sweetish taste in the mouth causes a constant feeling of thirst. Phenylalanine, being a component of aspartame, disrupts chemical processes in the brain, affects the functioning of the nervous system and the human hormonal background.
Xylitol (E697), maltitol (E695) are relatively safe food supplements, but can cause gastrointestinal disorders.
Sorbitol (E420) is an emulsifier and sweetener widely used in the manufacture of products for diabetics. However, it cannot be called safe for human health, since long-term use of sorbitol-containing products leads to visual impairment, diabetic retinopathy, gastrointestinal disorders and flatulence. Sorbitol is prohibited for use in the production of baby food, and in the United States is classified as an additive hazardous to human health.

Titanium dioxide (E171) is used as the most commonly used coloring agent for white chewing gum. On the one hand, there is no information about the dangers of this substance. But it is worth doubting its safety, since during experiments on rats, inhalation of titanium dioxide powder caused the development of cancer. In addition to it, a vegetable dye (E120) is used, which is an allergen.

This is an abbreviated list of chewing gum components that are used in production to give it more attractive qualities: ductility, better extensibility for inflating bubbles and a unique taste. But with a complex effect on the body, they can give a number of negative manifestations.

Consequences of long-term use

The harm of chewing gum, brought both by its components and by the process of continuous chewing, is as follows:

In kindergarten or at home, a child can go to bed without taking the chewing gum out of his mouth. Its entry into the respiratory organs can lead to suffocation or consequences incompatible with life.

The disadvantages of chewing gum, neutralizing the usefulness of its use, include:

Short-term effect of improving the smell from the oral cavity, lasting only a few minutes.
Aggravation from chewing gum of short-term memory and manifestation of absent-mindedness.
The negative impact of the constant use of chewing gum during the day on the condition of nails, hair, skin.
Along with the strengthening of the maxillofacial apparatus, an abnormal bite in a child caused by chewing can form, loosen the teeth.

Video: chewing gum harm, composition - shock!

Rules for use and an alternative to chewing gum

Despite the harm from chewing gum, if you don’t have a toothbrush on hand, its use is acceptable. And even then it is worth adhering to the rules for using chewing gum:

Chewing gum is not in between meals, but only strictly before meals or immediately after eating.
Chewing gum can be chewed for no more than 5 minutes. Then the additional production of saliva and gastric juice will not harm the body.
Do not swallow chewing gum after neutralizing its taste, do not throw it on the street in an unsuitable place for this.
Choose chewing gum with a neutral color, taste and smell.

If possible, you should replace the use of chewing gum with more natural products that cause a similar effect:

Chewing gummies that are easy to make at home.
Coffee beans that, when chewed, will permanently eliminate bad breath by destroying bacteria.
Mint and parsley leaves can dull the feeling of hunger, freshen breath and saturate the body with useful vitamins.

When using chewing gum, it is important to remember that everything must be in moderation. If possible, replace chewing gum with more natural products that can vitaminize the body, neutralize bacteria and refresh the oral cavity.

September 12, 2018

A snow-white dazzling smile and protection against caries are promised to us by chewing gum manufacturers in advertising campaigns. Is it true? Is chewing gum harmful? Let's figure it out.

We study the composition of chewing gum

The main component of chewing gum is rubber, which is a combination of polymer-type compounds that are not broken down by saliva. That is, we can safely say that we are chewing an elastic plastic piece, well "disguised" by various flavor enhancers.

Flavors and taste qualities of chewing gums are imparted by flavors of various types, sugar or its substitutes, as well as preservatives. All these components, both individually and in combination, have a detrimental effect on our health.

Sugar contributes to the creation of an environment in the mouth that is favorable for the reproduction of microflora that damages tooth enamel. If sugar substitutes such as xylitol and sorbitol are added to gum instead of sugar, this can cause pain in the abdomen, diarrhea, and bloating. And substances - flavors corrode the mucous membrane, as a result of which ulcers form in the mouth.

Add to chewing gum and glycerin. In principle, in small quantities it is not dangerous, but in large doses it can lead to heart pathologies. Additive E320 (this is an antioxidant) is produced from oil. Can you imagine how bad it is? In some countries, the E320 is banned. This carcinogen destroys the liver, stomach, thyroid, kidneys and reproductive system.

Mannitol, which is used as a sweetener, causes gagging, hives, and diarrhea. It is very dangerous for children and diabetics. And acesulfame has a carcinogenic effect. In animals, this element has been proven to cause lung cancer, breast cancer, and leukemia.

Children especially love chewing gum. Presentations of such products show how big bubbles can be blown from them. The harm of chewing gum also lies in the oils added to it, due to which bubbles are obtained. These oils (with frequent gum chewing) cause perioral dermatitis.

Attention! Additives labeled E321, as well as E140, which are part of chewing gums, cause allergies, especially hives.

This, of course, is not the whole list of ingredients contained in chewing gum. For example, in some gum you can find licorice extract. If it regularly enters our body, this will lead to an increase in pressure and a decrease in the concentration of an important element in the blood - potassium.

Harm of chewing gum for humans: 7 true facts

Manufacturers' stories that chewing gum is useful is a publicity stunt. In fact, they are harmful, one might even say dangerous to us. If you regularly chew gum, no doctor will help your teeth. And this is far from the only problem that chewing gum brings us.

Chewing gum harm:

Many chewing gums contain aspartame (this is indicated on the package). Decaying, this component is divided into methanol molecules, which have a carcinogenic effect on the body. With the accumulation of this toxin in the body, ailments of the kidneys, as well as the liver, develop.
The flavor enhancer glutamate is a frequent "guest" in chewing gums. It destroys our nerve cells. Especially glutamate is harmful to children. And if it enters the body of the expectant mother, it will harm the baby in the womb.
Teeth with fillings (despite manufacturers' assurances that chewing gum is soft) do not withstand the strong constant pressure from chewing gum and deform as a result.
When we chew gum, our salivary glands are activated, and the juice in the stomach begins to be produced faster. If at this moment we do not eat, a high accumulation of hydrochloric acid can lead to the destruction of the mucous membrane in the stomach. Over time, diseases such as gastritis and ulcers develop.
Sugar "feeds" pathogens. They multiply in the mouth, destroy tooth enamel, and cause caries. Even if the chewing gum contains a sweetener, it will undoubtedly harm our teeth from it.
Advertising campaigns for chewing gum "hit" the fact that they clean our mouth after eating. This is not entirely true, because there are places where chewing gum simply “does not reach”. An alternative is regular water rinses.
They don’t bring us chewing gum and a dazzling snow-white smile. None of the gum has a whitening effect. All this is the invention of the manufacturers.

Separately, one should dwell on the dangers of chewing gum for children. When an adult swallows gum, it's not scary, his stomach can cope and "dissolve" the gum. And if the baby accidentally eats gum, it can cause intestinal obstruction and even suffocation. Under regular pressure due to chewing, the baby’s jaw does not withstand, the bite may not form correctly.

On a note! Children can buy gummies instead of gum.

Chewing gums can be safely called carriers of infectious pathogens. Babies love to share chewed gum with each other. You yourself understand what this is fraught with. Be careful that your little one chews the gum for no more than five minutes, and then throws it into the bucket.

Attention! One discarded chewing gum on the pavement is equal to the death of one bird. The scent of the chewing gum attracts the bird, it grabs it, and the gum glues its beak. The result is death from thirst and hunger.

Is there any benefit?

A completely logical question arises - why were chewing gums not banned if they are so harmful to us? The answer is simple: chewing gum in moderation can provide some benefits.

Chewing gum cleans the tooth surface after eating, but of course, worse than brushing.
If you chew gum for five minutes after eating, it will contribute to its better digestion, as it will provoke the production of gastric juice.
Mint gum will freshen your breath after eating and smoking.