Which chewing gum is less harmful. Is chewing gum good or bad? Active salivation

Many have heard about the dangers of chewing gum. We try to buy it less often, as it is believed that it spoils the stomach and interferes with thought processes. However, these claims are not entirely true. It turns out that chewing gum can bring not only harm, but also benefit.

In fact, chewing gum does not spoil the stomach, but helps it. It promotes salivation, which increases our digestive activity, making it faster and easier to digest everything we eat. It is only important not to overdo it over time, otherwise, having processed all the food, the stomach will begin to digest itself.

Another plus of chewing gum is the strengthening of the mandibular joint and gums. Due to the fact that most of the food does not require active chewing, our mandibular joint is not sufficiently trained and developed. To keep the oral cavity in working tone, dentists advise using chewing gum every time after eating: starting from 3-5 minutes of active chewing and gradually increasing the interval. Of course, this advice only applies if there is no inflammation or damage to the lower jaw joint.

Do not forget that chewing gum freshens breath. Perhaps the duration of action will not be as long as the advertisement promises, but still it is better than the smell of freshly eaten salad. As they say in the same advertisement: "Fresh breath makes it easier to understand."

The rubber band also promotes concentration. During the Korean War, American troops were specially supplied with delicious chewing gum so that the soldier could perform his task with maximum concentration. According to British scientists, the use of chewing gum can affect the development of thinking and memory. Our teachers, however, believe that chewing gum only distracts the attention of schoolchildren and prevents them from concentrating on the subject.

This begs the question, do you really need to buy chewing gum for your child? On the one hand, strengthening the jaw joint and improving digestion will not hurt, on the other hand, this can be done in other ways.

The digestion of a growing organism that has not yet been disturbed does not require additional stimulation of salivation, and it is much more useful to strengthen the joint by eating carrots or apples. Rather, chewing gum can seriously harm children: a gum accidentally swallowed during a game, stuck in the throat, esophagus or intestines, will bring a lot of trouble. If your child cannot imagine his life without bubble gum, then chewing candy, which gradually melts in the mouth, can become a worthy alternative.

Chewing gum all day releases stomach acid. But in the absence of food in the stomach, the destruction of its walls begins. You can earn an ulcer and various diseases. Let's consider in more detail Why can't you chew gum for a long time??

Dentists do not recommend chewing gum if you have fillings or diseased teeth in your mouth. Sweetness gets into small defects, holes in the teeth and unbearable pain begins. This is especially true for those people who have temporary fillings. Do not forget about the joints that connect the upper and lower jaw. Constant chewing leads to their disease. The presence of sugar in chewing gum leads to the growth of bacteria in the mouth. Bacteria secrete acids that dissolve tooth enamel.

Main reasons:

The basis of chewing gum is rubber, which is harmful to the human body. Which in the future leads to serious poisoning.
There are sugar substitutes.
Risk for pregnant women.
Gastritis and ulcer.
Periodontitis disease.
Memory deterioration.
Malocclusion in young children.
Excess air is swallowed.
The level of mercury increases if the filling consists of an amalgam.

Adults for safety.

You are allowed to chew gum for five minutes before eating. After eating no more than a quarter of an hour. During the day, no more than 10 minutes, cleaning plaque and restore the acid-base balance in the body. When you smoke cigarettes, nicotine remains on the gum. Then, through the secretion of saliva, carcinogens and resin enter the bloodstream.

For kids.

It is recommended to use white chewing gum from the age of 6 and without the addition of dyes. Tell your child about the harmful properties, purpose of chewing gum. If possible, control the process of throwing it away, after the loss of its taste. Do not give before meals, only after meals. Do not spoil the children's stomach! Forbid swallowing, otherwise the intestines will clog, and health problems will begin. Do not blow bubbles. When you inhale backwards, the gum can stretch and block your airways. Which leads to severe consequences of strangulation, the appearance of fear in the eyes and death. Chewing gum cannot be reused.

Important: The public does not perceive a person who constantly chews gum and is limited in communication. Such people are called not cultured people.

Why you shouldn't chew gum for a long time pregnant women

Women who chew the product for a long time, during pregnancy, during breastfeeding, should think about the consequences. Which can be unpredictable and subsequently deplorable:

lose beautiful teeth
harmful as partam, which is added when preparing chewing gum
different dyes
delay in goods, which often causes poisoning
dangerous dye E131
development of fetal deformity.

All of the above seems to be not harmless, but it is better to play it safe and consult a qualified doctor. After all, everyone's body is different, but the result is the same. Do not chew, it is better to abstain during pregnancy. Imagine what happens to the inside of the womb? It's scary to think and imagine. The poor child feels everything. Any indisposition of the mother reflects badly on the baby.

Allergies appear after birth. Cancer cells are formed and all this is due to the dyes in chewing gum. I would like to add a little about toxicosis. Many relieve toxicosis by chewing, mint gum, chewing for hours. This is a bad method. If you want, then use no more than five minutes, and then spit it out.

Dentist-therapist and chief physician of MVK Beauty Line Marina Kolesnichenko explains how chewing gum can improve digestion and strengthen enamel. And also why it should not be chewed by pregnant women and those who have periodontal disease.

Marina Kolesnichenko

Chewing gum was always chewed. In Greece - the resin of the mastic tree, in Siberia - larches, in India - aromatic herbs. In the 16th century, tobacco appeared in Europe, which has been chewed and chewed to this day.

Traditional plant-based chewing gums served several functions. They cleaned the oral cavity of food debris, disinfected, strengthened the gums and trained the chewing apparatus. The first industrial chewing gum also consisted of vegetable raw materials, namely, the resin of coniferous trees. This product is not widely used due to its unpleasant appearance. In addition, twigs and needles were found in the chewing gum.

In 1869, experiments began on the production of chewing gum from rubber. In 1928, the accountant Walter Diemer came up with a new formula - it is similar to the one that is used today. It includes one part rubber and corn syrup, one percent flavorings and three parts sweeteners.

What is chewing gum made of?

Chewing gum is produced mainly from synthetic polymers with the addition of other components: sweeteners, flavors, preservatives, vitamins and enzymes. Some chewing gums may contain active substances that help whiten teeth and reminalize tooth enamel.

As sweeteners, sugar or glucose syrup is added to children's chewing gum. Sugar provokes the formation of a bacterial film on the teeth. Streptococcus mutans bacteria actively multiply as a result of the formation of lactic acid. She, in turn, is released after the breakdown of sucrose by saliva. Bacteria also contribute to the accumulation of dextrin in the oral cavity - it sticks to the surface of the teeth and forms an insoluble plaque. And already in the plaque, other bacteria begin to actively act, which secrete acid and dissolve the hard tissues of the tooth. A number of scientists blame sugar and other refined carbohydrates for the widespread occurrence of tooth decay.

Adult chewing gum contains other sugary substances that do not contain sucrose and are lower in calories. However, the used ones cause a lot of controversy about their safety for humans.

Animal experiments have shown the following: aspartic acid - aspartame - can cause cancer and toxic effects on blood vessels and the nervous system. Aspartame is present in chewing gum in a minimal dosage, but if a person constantly uses chewing gum, this substance will accumulate in his body. As a result, it can disrupt the perception of the surrounding reality. Xylitol acts as a laxative and also promotes the formation of kidney stones. Sorbitol and isomalt have a laxative effect.

There are also a lot of various ballast substances in chewing gum. Although we spit out the gum, most of its components still enter the body. Especially careful with chewing gum should be people with systemic diseases, kidney disease, diabetes.

Chewing gum is not recommended for pregnant women. It increases the risk of developing allergic reactions in the fetus due to the ballast substances with which the baby's immunity begins to fight. This distorts the normal development of the child's immune system.

What are the benefits of chewing gum

At the beginning of the 20th century, the first studies appeared on the benefits of chewing gum for digestion, nervous system and dental health. A publication by Columbia University professor Hollingworth proves the following: chewing reduces overall muscle tension and relieves stress. After this conclusion, chewing gum was introduced into the mandatory ration of the US Army.

A study by British psychologists from Cardiff University on March 8, 2013 proved that chewing helps to concentrate on complex tasks for long periods of time. The participants in the study who chewed the gum performed better over the course of the trial, compared to the non-chewers, who were more attentive at first but then lost concentration.

Chewing gum helps in the digestion of food. If you chew it after eating, it will help increase salivation. Saliva cleans the teeth and interdental spaces from food debris and bacteria, delivers nutrients to the enamel, and strengthens it.

Who Shouldn't Chew Gum

Chewing gum massages the gums and helps to evenly load the entire dentition, which is good for the prevention of periodontal disease. Moreover, it is for prevention - if periodontal disease already exists, you can’t chew gum. Chewing pressure is transmitted to all teeth evenly. It is provided by circular ligaments of teeth, due to which there is no overload. In periodontitis and periodontal disease, these circular ligaments are destroyed. As a result, the teeth are isolated, and chewing pressure is transmitted vertically to the bone tissue that surrounds each tooth. Because of this, there is a compression of blood vessels, malnutrition and atrophy of bone tissue, the necks of the teeth are exposed, the teeth lose their stability and become even more mobile. Increased abrasion of teeth is another contraindication to gum chewing.

Do not chew gum for more than 10-15 minutes after eating. Chewing on an empty stomach or for more than 15 minutes can lead to the development of gastritis or stomach ulcers due to the reflex release of acid that occurs when food enters the mouth. The stomach does not know that the gum will be spit out and not swallowed.

The chewing gum market has a stable annual growth. This means that people are chewing more and more. Why do we love these flavored, flavored polymer chunks so much? And is the constant use of chewing gum so harmless?

Benefits of chewing gum

It should be noted that the habit of chewing something on the go is not a feature of our days. People have been chewing gum since ancient times. Chewing tobacco, mastic tree resin, rubber juice, leaves of various plants - and this is not a complete list of natural chewing gums.

Chewing gum as we know it appeared in 1848 in America. Since then, the expansion of this product has spread throughout the planet.

So, what are the health benefits of chewing gum? First, chewing gum after eating improves oral health. The consistency of the gum helps the leftover food to stick to it, and thus they are removed. Secondly, during chewing, saliva is actively produced - a natural tooth cleaner. The refreshing effect of chewing gum is also undeniable. True, it has a short-term effect, masking bad breath, and not eliminating its cause.

American scientists have found that chewing gum after eating increases metabolism by 19%. Chewing also stimulates nerve endings that transmit a signal to the brain area responsible for satiety. That is, it can be argued that chewing gum is useful for those who want to lose weight.

Chewing gum is useful for concentration - scientists came to this opinion as a result of experiments. The fact is that when chewing, the activity of the parts of the brain responsible for memory increases, the production of insulin and the heart rate increase, which means that a person thinks much better. So, during the experiments, a group of students chewing gum coped with test tasks 10% faster than their colleagues who did not chew gum.

Chewing gum has a calming effect. Scientists have noticed that chewing gum is an excellent stress reliever. In the process of chewing, the brain switches from disturbing thoughts to analyzing the taste and texture of the gum. No wonder there is an expression "to seize stress." Indeed, in stressful situations, we want to chew on something.

Harm of chewing gum

Now let's talk about the harm that chewing gum can bring. So, most chewing gums contain components that themselves are the cause of such diseases of the teeth, gums and oral cavity as caries, periodontal disease and various types of gingivitis (). In the process of chewing gum intensively, you can damage a dental filling, bite your tongue, lip, or the inner surface of your cheek.

From the gastrointestinal tract (, stomach ulcer), the most dangerous is the use of chewing gum on an empty stomach.

Flavorings in chewing gum can cause allergies. All kinds of dyes are also far from harmless substances - many of them have a carcinogenic property.

American neurologist John Olney proved the danger of glutamate (a food additive that enhances the taste of almost any chewing gum). 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. Therefore, during pregnancy, he strongly recommends giving up chewing gum.

What can replace chewing gum?

If you're worried about your dental health, no amount of chewing gum can replace good oral care. Brushing 2 times a day, rinsing your mouth after meals, flossing and regular visits to the dentist - and you just don't need chewing gum. In extreme cases, the smell of garlic or alcohol can be interrupted by chewing on a mint leaf, parsley, or a coffee bean.

If you just like to chew something during the day, then let it be a healthy snack. Pumpkin seeds, an apple, chewing gum or a handful of a mixture of nuts and dried fruits will be a hundred times more useful than any chewing gum!

Take care of yourself and be healthy!

Dmitry Belov

With the help of chewing gum, they get rid of food debris in the oral cavity, use it for fresh breath, or simply chew it for relaxation. But the harm of chewing gum is many times greater than its imaginary beneficial properties ...

History of gum

The prototype of chewing gum has existed since ancient times. In ancient Greece, chewing gum was made from the resins of some trees, the Mayan Indians chewed

rubber, and in India pressed aromatic leaves were used. The purpose of such chewing gum was the same as now: to eliminate bad breath, give freshness to the breath, clean the interdental spaces from food particles, massage the gums and just as a treat.

It is interesting! One of the largest chewing gum companies, founded in 1928, was located in a factory where poisons used to be created (USA, Tennessee).

What is chewing gum made of

Chewing gum is a base (synthetic polymers) and food additives (flavors, flavor enhancers, preservatives, etc.). Modern chewing gums have optimal elasticity so as not to stick to the teeth and provide free chewing.

In the composition of any chewing gum, you can find the following components that are far from useful for human health:

Glycerin (stabilizer E422) - toxic, causes blood diseases, harms the liver.
Butylhydrohydroxyanisole (E320 antioxidant) - increases cholesterol, has a carcinogenic effect on the digestive tract.
Citric acid - a harmless at first glance, an additive with prolonged use can cause blood diseases.
Sweeteners (xylitol and sorbitol) - have laxative properties, disrupt the digestive tract.

The listed components are not prohibited and in small quantities are not harmful. But many chew gum often and for a long time, so it affects health.

Ask the dentist

In many ways, the popularity of chewing gum was given by television advertising. From the screens now and then they talk about the need to restore the acid-base balance, which is disturbed during meals.

Spoils teeth

Using chewing gum to prevent caries is the same if there are sweet buns for weight loss. Those. it is not only useless, but also harmful. No, of course, saliva produced while chewing gum washes away food particles from hard-to-reach places, but at the same time it destroys fillings. The alkaline nature of saliva creates an unhealthy environment in the oral cavity in which enamel-destroying bacteria multiply.

There is another reason why dentists do not recommend chewing gum, especially for children. Sticky chewing gum can easily deprive a tooth of a filling or its particles. And not every child will tell his parents about a small hole that he began to feel with his tongue. Over time, food will begin to get stuck in this hole, and everyone understands that caries will develop sooner or later.

By the way! A person does double harm to himself when he chews gum without sweeteners. After all, sugar is the main enemy of teeth.

Causes stomach problems

For the digestive system, chewing gum is perhaps even more harmful than for teeth. During chewing, a large amount of not only saliva is produced, but also gastric juice, and this is hydrochloric acid.

It would be one thing if this process happened before eating, but modern people, taught by advertising, chew gum after eating. It turns out that a deceptive signal enters the stomach, begins to produce an enzyme and ... does not receive food that could be digested in the juice. Hydrochloric acid envelops the walls of the stomach, causing gastritis and peptic ulcer.

Source of infection

Today, special chewing gums are produced marked "for children". They have a more pronounced taste, a bright wrapper and an attractive color (more often these are juicy, saturated tones).

Important! Explain to your child that the maximum gum chewing time is 5 minutes. Even if the chewing gum does not lose its taste and elasticity during this time, you should spit it out ruthlessly. And never reuse!

The worst

On Wikipedia, chewing gum is proudly referred to as a culinary product. In fact, the way it is, because a person uses chewing gum for food. The only caveat: it is not necessary and cannot be swallowed. If the chewing gum just gets into the stomach, then it is not very dangerous. The caustic gastric juice will cope with the digestion of even a synthetic polymer.

The danger arises when chewing gum enters the respiratory tract. For an adult, this usually ends in discomfort, and for children, this is fraught with urgent resuscitation.

The child begins to panic, breathe deeply and sharply, because of which the chewing gum clogs the airways even more firmly. Consequences: suffocation, loss of consciousness, coma and sometimes, unfortunately, death.

Therefore, parents should carefully monitor that children (especially small ones) do not take chewing gum and in no case fall asleep with gum in their mouths.