Chewing Gum: Good or Bad?

Gum Packets

Chewing gum is a widely distributed product across the world and has been utilized for roughly 9,000 years to date. I, like many other people, regularly chew gum: specifically during many of my baseball games. Although it is not as healthy as eating an apple, it is a much healthier alternative than chewing tobacco (which many baseball players used in previous decades) and I enjoy the taste. Furthermore, gum first became a prominent commercial product in the twentieth century when William Wrigley Jr. took advantage of the open market. He founded the brands Juicy Fruit and Wrigley's Spearmint in 1893, and the rest was history. Today, there are 3.74 trillion sticks of gum produced each year, and the average American chews 300 sticks of gum each year. Such widespread use has led to widespread criticism as many people have questioned if gum is bad for you. Critics have used the myth that "it remains in your body for 7 years if you swallow it" to denounce its use, while supporters have used the myth "you can substitute brushing with chewing gum" to reassure users that chewing gum is in fact safe. While gum actually travels down your digestive tract like any other indigestible substance (like fiber), and obviously is not a valid substitute to dental care, the question of is it good, bad or in between still remains in question.

William Wrigley Jr. 

Using surveys and common sense, there are many advantages to chewing gum. According to a study done by Defined Intensity Stressor Simulation (DISS), gum chewers saw a 17% reduction during mild stress compared to non-gum chewers, and gum chewers saw a 10% reduction in moderate stress compared to non gum-chewers. Additionally, a study done in Japan demonstrated that blood flow to the brain increased by 25% when chewing gum. Specifically, this helps with with increased focus, alertness, and concentration. This is why many soldiers, coaches, and athletes are seen chewing gum to help with these processes. And in general, good cerebral circulation, or blood flow to the brain (which is helped by chewing gum) is important to supply the brain with oxygen, glucose and nutrient rich blood, remove CO2 and other waste products, and decrease the likelihood of a serious health issue such as a stroke. Despite its small size in comparison to the rest of the body, the brain still needs a very high input of energy as it requires 15% of the heart's cardiac output in order to get the glucose and oxygen it needs. Accordingly, to bring the topic back to gum, the brain can accomplish this all more efficiently because chewing gum increases blood flow to the brain. Lastly, from a common sense perspective, chewing gum helps with weight management. Gum keeps an individual full by only in-taking 5-10 calories and without desire for sweets such as a chocolate chip cookie, which is about 130 calories.

Michael Jordan (AKA the greatest basketball player of all time) chewing gum to improve focus, alertness, and concentration

Despite the advantages listed above, gum is obviously not 100% good for you. First, the primary ingredient in gum is the gum base, which is 25-35% of the composition. Gum base is made out of polymers, plasticizers and resins; the polymers (elastomers) allow for the stretchy and sticky nature, plasticizers improve the flexibility, and resins compose the hydrophobic portion of the gum base which causes it not to dissolve in water, and allows the gum to be chewy. The rubbers used in gum base also contribute to the fact that gum is insoluble. But even though it is insoluble, f you were to swallow gum, enzymes such as amylase are used to break it down -- so that debunks the myth that it "stays in your body for 7 years." However, many modern gum base ingredients also include polyethylene, which is also found in hula hoops, ketchup containers, and white glue. Personally, I would not want to eat (or chew on) any of those items. Furthermore, gum base is used as an umbrella term and 46 different chemicals are allowed to be used for the gum base according to the FDA. So, the fact that this large inclusion of many chemicals is pretty ambiguous is another drawback for chewing gum.

Gum Base

    Additionally, there are some other negatives to chewing gum. It can cause Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ), which is provoked by chewing more often on one side of your mouth, causing jaw imbalance, or just the overuse of muscles as a result of chewing too much gum. Aside from the enervating pain, TMJ can also lead to earaches, toothaches, and headaches. Similarly, tooth decay can be caused by chewing gum -- the sugar surrounds the teeth and damages the tooth enamel. Lastly, plaque can be caused when sugar is consumed by bad bacteria in your mouth, which can accumulate with the sugar, causing plaque.

Healthy tooth vs tooth with plaque (can be caused by chewing gum)

Clearly, there are some advantages and some disadvantages to chewing gum. But, pioneers such as William Wrigley Jr. would definitely be proud of the growth of the industry which made north of $32 million in 2019. Personally, I will continue to chew it, and I even do so during many of my baseball games to maintain decent breath, and I think it helps me focus/concentrate on each pitch.