As people pay more attention to oral health, chewing gum, as a representative of freshening breath and removing some impurities, has evolved from the colorful bubble gum of the past to the popular xylitol gum of today. Recently, Hong Kong even launched an eco-friendly, biodegradable gum that melts in water in just 6 minutes. All of these have become indispensable items in people's lives. However, the Hong Kong Ta Kung Pao recently cited a new study by American experts, listing the pros and cons of chewing gum.
Reasons to love chewing gum:
Prevent cavities. A study by Indiana University and the University of Puerto Rico pointed out that chewing sugar-free gum after meals or snacks can remove food debris from between teeth while neutralizing acids produced by plaque, thus preventing cavities.
Suggestion: To minimize oral acidity, it is recommended to choose sugar-free gums containing xylitol or sorbitol.
Clean the mouth. Chewing gum can increase saliva production, which helps to rinse the mouth.
Suggestion: Before a date or an interview, it's best to chew mint-flavored gum.
Relieve stress. Psychological research shows that chewing gum can alleviate tension and reduce anxiety levels by 16.5%.
Suggestion: Office workers should always have a pack of gum on hand.
Improve memory. British scientists once conducted a word recall experiment on 75 university students and found that the group that chewed gum scored more than 36% higher than the group that did not.
Suggestion: Students can chew more mint-flavored gum, which can not only refresh the mind but also help concentrate and improve learning efficiency.
Enjoy the pleasure of chewing. Although chewing gum is a type of indulgence food, it does not contain ingredients that cause psychological or physical dependence.
Suggestion: When feeling bored, chewing gum can not only prevent weight gain but also allow you to enjoy the pleasure of chewing.
Reduce smoking. An American experiment proved that chewing gum helps control nicotine cravings. Smokers who do not chew gum have significantly stronger cravings and more severe symptoms of nicotine addiction.
Suggestion: Smokers should chew more gum, especially when cravings strike, for better results.
Drive away drowsiness. Xylitol produces an endothermic effect when it dissolves, and chewing it leaves you feeling refreshed. Combined with its mint flavor, it's a great choice for fighting drowsiness.
Suggestion: When working late or driving at night, it's a good idea to have some mint-flavored gum on hand to prevent sleepiness.
Prevent mouth ulcers. Chewing gum can reduce the incidence of mouth ulcers by 50%; even if you get a mouth ulcer after chewing, it will be a Grade I ulcer.
Suggestion: People with irregular digestive or endocrine systems are more prone to mouth ulcers, so it is recommended that they often chew gum.
Contribute to beauty. Dr. Fox, director of the Los Angeles Neurological Medical Center, found that chewing gum for 15-20 minutes a day helps with beauty.
Suggestion: Women can keep a box of gum in their purse and chew it often in their spare time.
Disadvantages of frequent chewing gum:
Cause mercury poisoning. Frequent chewing of gum can damage dental fillings, causing the amalgam to release mercury, leading to excessive levels of mercury in the blood and urine, which can harm the brain, central nervous system, and kidneys.
Affect sleep quality. Chewing gum for long periods keeps the chewing muscles in a constant state of tension, which may lead to teeth grinding and affect sleep quality.
Cause stomach problems. Chewing gum on an empty stomach can easily lead to gastritis and stomach ulcers; do not chew gum for more than 15 minutes after a meal, otherwise the digestive juices secreted while chewing can damage the gastric mucosa. People with stomach problems should chew gum less often.
Move teeth outward. Many children like to blow bubbles with gum. If they do this often, it may cause their front teeth to move outward.