{"id":26381,"date":"2025-04-22T09:00:43","date_gmt":"2025-04-22T09:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/?p=26381"},"modified":"2025-04-22T09:23:51","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T09:23:51","slug":"is-it-bad-to-chew-gum-all-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/?p=26381","title":{"rendered":"Is It Bad to Chew Gum All Day?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn\" data-testid=\"companionColumn-0\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\"><strong class=\"css-8qgvsz ebyp5n10\">Q: Mint gum is the only thing that gets me through the workday. Is all that chewing bad for my health?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">If you\u2019re a regular gum chewer, you\u2019re in good company. In <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30722760\/\" title rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">one 2019 study<\/a> of over 3,000 U.S. teens and adults, 62 percent reported munching on gum over the past six months; and on average, they chewed about one piece per day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Gum chewing can affect various parts of the body, experts say \u2014 in positive and negative ways.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"css-1u37br4 eoo0vm40\" id=\"link-6cf47283\">The Potential Benefits<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\"><strong class=\"css-8qgvsz ebyp5n10\">Better oral health.<\/strong> Chewing a piece of gum spurs the production of saliva, which can protect your teeth from erosion by neutralizing the acidity in your mouth, said Dr. Peter Arsenault, a dentist and professor at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Similar to brushing, the gum\u2019s movement around the mouth may also remove bits of food and plaque from your teeth and around your gums, Dr. Arsenault said. The extra saliva, he added, may also improve your breath, because bad breath is exacerbated by a dry mouth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"Dropzone-1\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn\" data-testid=\"companionColumn-1\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Sugar-free gum options are generally better for your teeth than those made with sugar, which feeds the bacteria that can cause tooth decay. Gum made with the sugar substitute xylitol may provide added dental benefits, because <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/16708791\/\" title rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">it can reduce the cavity-causing bacteria<\/a> in your mouth. In <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC9022379\/\" title rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">a 2022 meta-analysis of 30 studies<\/a>, researchers found that chewing xylitol-containing gum (or eating xylitol-containing candies) three to five times a day after meals could reduce cavity risk by 17 percent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\"><strong class=\"css-8qgvsz ebyp5n10\">Less heartburn.<\/strong> When swallowed, the extra saliva from gum chewing may help to neutralize acid in the esophagus, leading to fewer heartburn symptoms, said Dr. Aditi Stanton, a gastroenterologist in Cincinnati. There is little research on the issue, but in <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/154405910508401118?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&amp;rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&amp;rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed\" title rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">one 2005 study<\/a> of 31 people who were prone to acid reflux, researchers found that chewing sugar-free gum for 30 minutes after eating heartburn-inducing foods led to reduced acid levels in the esophagus.<\/p>\n<div class=\"css-kbghgg\">\n<div class=\"css-121kum4\">\n<div class=\"css-171quhb\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-asuuk5\">\n<div class=\"css-7axq9l\" data-testid=\"optimistic-truncator-noscript\">\n<div data-testid=\"optimistic-truncator-noscript-message\" class=\"css-6yo1no\">\n<p class=\"css-3kpklk\">We are having trouble retrieving the article content.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-3kpklk\">Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1dv1kvn\" id=\"optimistic-truncator-a11y\">\n<hr \/>\n<p>Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/myaccount.nytimes.com\/auth\/login?response_type=cookie&amp;client_id=vi&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F04%2F22%2Fwell%2Fchewing-gum-health-pros-cons.html&amp;asset=opttrunc\">log into<\/a>\u00a0your Times account, or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F04%2F22%2Fwell%2Fchewing-gum-health-pros-cons.html\">subscribe<\/a>\u00a0for all of The Times.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1g71tqy\">\n<div data-testid=\"optimistic-truncator-message\" class=\"css-6yo1no\">\n<p class=\"css-3kpklk\">Thank you for your patience while we verify access.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-3kpklk\">Already a subscriber?\u00a0<a data-testid=\"log-in-link\" class=\"css-z5ryv4\" href=\"https:\/\/myaccount.nytimes.com\/auth\/login?response_type=cookie&amp;client_id=vi&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F04%2F22%2Fwell%2Fchewing-gum-health-pros-cons.html&amp;asset=opttrunc\">Log in<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-3kpklk\">Want all of The Times?\u00a0<a data-testid=\"subscribe-link\" class=\"css-z5ryv4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F04%2F22%2Fwell%2Fchewing-gum-health-pros-cons.html\">Subscribe<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Q: Mint gum is the only thing that gets me through the workday. Is all that chewing bad for my health?If you\u2019re a regular gum chewer, you\u2019re in good company. In one 2019 study of over 3,000 U.S. teens and adults, 62 percent reported munching on gum over the past six months; and on average, they chewed about one piece per day.Gum chewing can affect various parts of the body, experts say \u2014 in positive and negative ways.The Potential BenefitsBetter oral health. Chewing a piece of gum spurs the production of saliva, which can protect your teeth from erosion by neutralizing the acidity in your mouth, said Dr. Peter Arsenault, a dentist and professor at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.Similar to brushing, the gum\u2019s movement around the mouth may also remove bits of food and plaque from your teeth and around your gums, Dr. Arsenault said. The extra saliva, he added, may also improve your breath, because bad breath is exacerbated by a dry mouth.Sugar-free gum options are generally better for your teeth than those made with sugar, which feeds the bacteria that can cause tooth decay. Gum made with the sugar substitute xylitol may provide added dental benefits, because it can reduce the cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth. In a 2022 meta-analysis of 30 studies, researchers found that chewing xylitol-containing gum (or eating xylitol-containing candies) three to five times a day after meals could reduce cavity risk by 17 percent.Less heartburn. When swallowed, the extra saliva from gum chewing may help to neutralize acid in the esophagus, leading to fewer heartburn symptoms, said Dr. Aditi Stanton, a gastroenterologist in Cincinnati. There is little research on the issue, but in one 2005 study of 31 people who were prone to acid reflux, researchers found that chewing sugar-free gum for 30 minutes after eating heartburn-inducing foods led to reduced acid levels in the esophagus.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and\u00a0log into\u00a0your Times account, or\u00a0subscribe\u00a0for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber?\u00a0Log in.Want all of The Times?\u00a0Subscribe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26383,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26381","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26381","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=26381"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26381\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26384,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26381\/revisions\/26384"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/26383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=26381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=26381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=26381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}