Chewing gum is a pretty common activity and is a habit we often pick up as kids without thinking about it.
But while it might not get the same press as smoking or even sugary soda consumption, it’s got its fair share of risks and health impacts that anyone who chews regularly should be made aware of.
Take a look at what that pack of gum in your pocket can really do to your body. It’s not pretty.
It can cause headaches, especially in teenagers.
A study of thirtyyoung people who chew gum regularly found that almost all of them endured headaches ranging from mild to migraines. One month after quitting, the headaches disappeared for all thirty. When some resumed, so did the headaches.
Chewing gum increases junk food cravings.
Many think that chewing gum is a low-cal way to curb your cravings for more potent sugary snacks, but that’s not the case. It does curb your appetiteto a small degree, but the flavors and additivesin gum can make later ingestion of vegetables and healthy foods taste even more bitter and unappealing, causing gum-chewers to resort to similarly sweet junk foods.
Chewing repeatedly can cause jaw issues such as TMJ.
People who chew gum normally do so on one side of their mouth rather than both equally. This can cause a disruption in jaw mechanics that can lead to misalignment which requires orthodontics or surgery.
It can also causeside effects such as toothaches and even ear aches.
Chewing gum can even wreak havoc on your stomach.
Swallowing your gum might not be as bad as you were led to believe, but chewing it can create GI issues that you’ve never imagined. When you chew, you introduce more air into your esophagus than you would otherwise. This has been known to lead to irritable bowel syndrome, as well as cramping.
Gum, even sugar-free varieties, can cause serious tooth damage.
Just because the sweetening agents and additives in gum aren’t sugar doesn’t mean they can’t rot your teeth and strip enamel. Many believe these chemicals added could be even worse, so studies on the matter continue to be underway.
Gum’s not for vegans, because it contains sheep byproducts.
This isn’t a threat to your health per se, but you should know that if you are trying to stay away from animal products, you should ensure that your brand of choice doesn’t include lanolin, an additive that comes from sheep’s bodies.
Even if you aren’t a vegan, it’s kind of gross.
Chewing gum can release poisonous mercury from your earlier fillings.
Even the vapor from mercury is dangerous, with a dental study on the matter stating,“chewing gum has been shown to increase the release rate of mercury vapor from dental amalgam fillings. The impact of excessive chewing on mercury levels was considerable.”
