Chewing Gum: Fact & Fiction


Remember all the things your parents would tell you when you were growing up to scare you away from doing something? Like how lying might make your nose grow, misbehaving meant you wouldn’t get money from the tooth fairy, and swallowed chewing gum would build up in your stomach and stay there for years?

Maybe that last one stayed with you well beyond your teens, and occurred to you every time you accidentally (or purposely) swallowed a piece of gum. We don’t blame you. It’s a scary thought.

But is it true?

We hate to take the fun out of parental discipline, but swallowing a piece of chewing gum is pretty much like swallowing any other piece of food. It will move right through your digestive system with no danger of getting stuck for months, let alone seven years.

This doesn’t mean you should start swallowing all your gum from now on, but if it happens accidentally now and then, there’s no need to panic.

Another common gum myth is that sugar-free gum can help you lose weight. Although it is preferable to choose sugar-free gum over the extra-sweet variety, no studies have show that sugar-free gum will help you lose weight.

If you pop a piece of gum in your mouth after dinner to avoid dessert, it could help you avoid eating a few extra calories every day. But the consumption of sugar-free gum without any other effort will not help you shed pounds.

If you really enjoy chewing gum, we strongly encourage you to select sugarless gum, because it lowers your risk for cavities. Many brands of sugarless gum contain xylitol, a natural sweetener that can, in fact, help fight bacteria that cause cavities and rinse away plaque.

So if you can’t kick the gum habit altogether, sugar-free is definitely the way to go!


Comments

  1. Renee YurovskyMay 26, 2021 at 9:13 PM

    Thanks for taking the time to share this informative information with us. This a question many people have asked about chewing gum and your article touched base with a lot of details. Have a great rest of your day.
    Dentist Philadelphia

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Smoking and Your Oral Health

Image
By now we all know that smoking is bad for our health. It increases the risk for cancer, heart disease, and numerous other problems throughout the body. Your mouth is no exception. With the New Year right around the corner, what better time is there to quit? Hewlett Family Dental  wants to help the cause of moving towards a smoke-free life by providing our community members with some more reasons to quit. How Smoking Affects Your Oral Health One of the commonly overlooked dangers of smoking is how it affects oral health.  The truth is, several oral health problems are directly related to smoking, and continuing to smoke can put you at increased risk for: Gum disease Oral cancer Dry mouth Discolored teeth Bad breath Tips to Quit Smoking is addictive and therefore not easy to quit. Some people even try quitting multiple times before they succeed at never picking up another cigarette. We understand how difficult quitting can be and are here to provide support f
Read more

When To Start Brushing Babies Teeth

Image
Early dental care for children is very important. Although most babies do not have visible teeth for the first six months to one year of their lives, good dental care starts from the very beginning. Baby teeth will eventually be replaced by permanent adult teeth, but neglect of your child’s first teeth may lead to serious health issues. In making sure your child has proper dental care, you will help to safeguard their smile, and also assist them in building a lifetime of good oral care habits. Before Tooth Eruption The first baby teeth start to show up at around six months old and will likely appear in the front of the mouth. But even before they arrive, you need to keep your baby’s mouth clean. Using a clean, warm, moistened cloth or a piece of sterile gauze,   gently wipe your baby’s gums with your index finger. Be thorough, but use light pressure. The goal is to remove any food particles or milk film from their gums. Teething Teething can be frustrating for a baby
Read more

5 Ways To Stop Bleeding Gums

Have you ever noticed inflamed gums or slight bleeding while you brush or floss? Like many individuals, you may have ignored the inflammation and blood until one day you realized that the problem only got worse. If you’re feeling alarmed, it’s for a good reason. According to the  National Library of Medicine , bleeding gums is an early sign of  gum disease that requires a sense of urgency and treatment. After noticing signs of gum inflammation and/or bleeding, it’s critical that you make an appointment to see your dentist as soon as possible. Though your appointment maybe a few days or even weeks away, there are steps you can take to reduce the inflammation and stop the bleeding in the meantime. Check out our methods below! Improve your diet Improving your diet means one thing: eating  healthier . Throw out the sugary foods and candy that are not only hurting your gums but hurting your entire body. Your gums require good nutrition to stay healthy. Consider increasing your in
Read more