A great deal of sugar-free gum is sweetened with a common sugar substitute called Aspartame. One study which appeared in the Life Sciences Journal concluded that Aspartame may help create formaldehyde in the body, which is a known carcinogen. Some people claim to have experienced side effects such as headaches, dizziness and mood swings after consuming Aspartame, though the FDA and American Cancer Society have not issued any official warnings about it except for people who lack the necessary enzyme to break it down.
The tempromandibular joint, or TMJ, is the place where your jawbone attaches to your skull. TMJ disorders result from the muscles which control this join becoming fatigued or unbalanced.
While most gum chewing does not cause TMJ disorders, people who develop a regular gum chewing habit can experience muscle fatigue which places them at risk of TMJ disorders. Aggressive gum chewing or lopsided chewing chewing only on one side of the mouth both increase the risk of developing TMJ disorders, as these behaviors are more stressful on the TMJ area than others.
Chewing gum on a regular basis as a habit can also lead to excessive wear on the tooth enamel, and even lead to changes in your bite alignment. Specifically, the upper molars may spread apart gradually, while the lower molars begin to gradually drift backward leading to an overbite. If the behavior continues and is left unchecked, these changes can eventually lead to the need for orthodontic care to correct them.
Additionally, if the enamel is allowed to gradually wear down, the teeth may become sensitive to hot or cold foods and beverages, or acidic foods. Some gum chewers, especially younger people such as teens in high school have experienced headaches as a result of excessive gum chewing.
This is a result of the jaw muscles becoming fatigued. These headaches are usually the result of a student chewing gum as a way of dealing with stress, such as when studying for or taking an important test. This stress tends to lead to chewing harder and faster as well, which further exacerbates the problem, leading to a tension headache.
Animal studies have suggested that aspartame is a chemical carcinogen in rodents and that prenatal exposure to aspartame increases cancer risk in rodent offspring However, the possible connection between aspartame and obesity needs to be further studied 13 , However, people who have a rare hereditary condition known as phenylketonuria should limit their consumption of phenylalanine, which is a component of aspartame Studies have found that chewing gum while performing tasks can improve various aspects of brain function, including alertness, memory, understanding, and decision making 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , One randomized controlled trial found that students who chewed gum over a period of 7 or 19 days had reduced scores for depression, anxiety, and stress compared to those who did not.
Those who chewed gum also achieved greater academic success Interestingly, some studies have found that chewing gum during tasks may be a bit of a distraction at the start but could help you focus for longer periods Other studies have found benefits during only the first 15—20 minutes of a task One theory is that this improvement is due to increased blood flow to the brain caused by chewing gum.
Studies have also found that chewing gum may reduce stress and increase feelings of alertness 17 , 24 , This could be due to the act of chewing, which has been linked to reduced levels of stress hormones such as cortisol 27 , However, habitual gum chewers may benefit from feeling more alert and less stressed throughout the day 17 , Chewing gum could help improve your memory.
It has also been linked to reduced feelings of stress. Chewing gum could be a helpful tool for those trying to lose weight. Some research also suggests that chewing gum could reduce your appetite, which could prevent you from overeating 30 , One small study found that chewing gum between meals decreased feelings of hunger and reduced intake of high carb snacks in the afternoon The results of another small study suggest that chewing gum while walking could help burn more calories However, the overall results are mixed.
Some studies have reported that chewing gum does not affect appetite or energy intake over the course of a day 34 , One study even found that people who chewed gum were less likely to snack on fruit.
However, this may be because the participants were chewing minty gum before eating, which made the fruit taste bad Interestingly, there is also some evidence that chewing gum may increase your metabolic rate However, more research is needed to determine whether chewing gum leads to a difference in weight over the long term. Chewing gum could help you cut calories and lose weight. It may also help reduce feelings of hunger and help you eat less, although the results are inconclusive.
Studies have found that chewing gums sweetened with the sugar alcohol xylitol are more effective than other sugar-free gums at preventing tooth decay This is because xylitol prevents the growth of the bacteria that cause tooth decay and bad breath 39 , Furthermore, chewing gum after a meal increases saliva flow. This helps wash away harmful sugars and food debris, both of which feed bacteria in your mouth While chewing gum has some potential benefits, chewing too much gum could cause some unwanted side effects.
The sugar alcohols used to sweeten sugar-free gum have a laxative effect when consumed in large amounts. Sucrose, a disaccharide, is commonly used in sugar-containing chewing gum. Sucrose and other fermentable carbohydrates can be metabolized by oral bacteria. These bacteria particularly S. As defined in the Code of Federal Regulations In place of sugar, high-intensity sweeteners such as acesulfame-K, aspartame, neotame, saccharin, sucralose or stevia are used to sweeten gum.
Chewing sugarless gum after a meal can increase salivary flow by stimulating both mechanical and taste receptors in the mouth. The average unstimulated salivary flow rate for healthy people is 0.
Over time, these acids can damage tooth enamel, potentially resulting in decay. There are several mechanisms by which stimulated saliva flow may protect against dental caries. Increased saliva flow carries with it calcium and phosphate which can contribute to remineralization of tooth enamel; the presence of fluoride in the saliva can serve to replace enamel components magnesium and carbonate with the stronger, more caries-resistant fluorapatite crystals.
A systematic review and meta-analysis by Nasseripour et al. This association between cariogenesis and S. Functional chewing gum is the term given to chewing gum said to have function instead of or in addition to that of traditional chewing gum. Although using chewing gum may have appeal as a means of drug delivery, factors such as dosing and local effects of active ingredients on the oral cavity may be of concern. Department of Health and Human Services.
A number of systematic reviews published in the last 5 years have indicated that chewing gum may positively affect postoperative ileus following various types of surgical interventions e. Research studies have utilized chewing gums with layers of color as a tool to evaluate chewing function in adults 24 as well as the elderly. Oral mucositis is characterized by ulcerative and erosive lesions seen to occur in the oral mucosa after radiotherapy to treat head and neck cancer or high-dose chemotherapy used in the treatment of a variety of cancer.
The systematic review used to inform the update to the American Society of Clinical Oncology ASCO clinical practice guidelines for the management of oral mucositis and xerostomia 26 resulted in the inclusion of a new suggestion clarifying that chewing gum is not effective for prevention of oral mucositis in pediatric cancer patients who receive chemotherapy.
In the update to the ASCO clinical practice guideline addressing xerostomia induced by nonsurgical cancer therapies, a cited systematic review included both sugar-free lozenges or chewing gum among the recommended interventions to help with xerostomia experienced after cancer treatment by chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Look for the ADA Seal—your assurance that the product has been objectively evaluated for safety and efficacy by an independent body of scientific experts, the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs.
A company earns the ADA Seal by demonstrating that its sugar-free chewing gum product meets the requirements for safety and efficacy. Studies must also show that the gum is safe to oral tissues. To date, the only chewing gums with the ADA Seal are sugarless. They are sweetened by non-cavity-causing sweeteners such as aspartame, sorbitol, xylitol, or mannitol. Chewing sugarless gum has been shown to increase the flow of saliva, thereby reducing plaque acid, strengthening the teeth and reducing tooth decay.
Content is neither intended to nor does it establish a standard of care or the official policy or position of the ADA; and is not a substitute for professional judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. ADA is not responsible for information on external websites linked to this website. Chewing Gum. Key Points Chewing gum in various forms has been around since ancient times. Sugarless chewing gum may, when added to a regular home oral care routine of twice daily brushing with fluoridated toothpaste and daily cleaning between teeth, contribute to reducing caries risk.
Chewing gum increases salivary flow and volume by mechanical action and stimulation of oral taste receptors.
To earn the ADA Seal of Acceptance , a company provides data about the safety and efficacy of the product to the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs to evaluate; the product will receive the Seal if the Council finds the data demonstrates the product meets the predetermined, objective requirements.
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