Did you know that chewing gums have benefits?
By laydee
@laydee (12798)
Philippines
April 26, 2010 2:24am CST
I stumbled upon the Wrigley's site (Makers of Skittles, Chicklets and the JuicyFruit Gum) because of a discussion opened by a mylotter about Bazooka gums.
Anyhow, I opened the site http://www.wrigley.com/global/benefits-of-chewing.aspx and saw that there are 'benefits' for chewing gum. I've always thought that they are nuisance candies that stick everywhere which is why Singapore banded it in their country.
Here are the 'benefits':
You love to chew gum because it tastes great and freshens your breath, but did you know there may be additional benefits to chewing gum?
More than two decades of research and consumer outreach have driven Wrigley's leadership in oral care with consumers and within the professional and scientific community. Over the last three years, the Wrigley Science Institute™ has conducted research related to the benefits of chewing gum in the areas of:
• weight management
• stress relief
• increased alertness, focus and concentration
These benefits are at the core of Wrigley's leadership in chewing gum and confections that focus on health and wellness. The Wrigley portfolio offers a wide range of choices including both "better-for-you" sugar-free chewing gum, such as Orbit®, Extra®, Eclipse® and 5™, and "pocket" confections, such as mints and oral care drops, that deliver functional benefits. Come back soon to learn more about Wrigley's products and their wellness benefits.
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In terms of Weight Management - I think it does indeed help because the constant sweet flavor would not cause you to be hungry all the time. But I don't think it's healthy to chew all the time, it causes my gums to be painful over time.
As for stress relief, well I definitely think it's better than smoking but having the same minty flavor in the mouth.
Increased alertness, focus and concentration? How could a person concentrate when he's chewing? I have no idea.
What do you think of the said 'benefits'? Do you think they do apply?
1 person likes this
14 responses
@redhotpogo (4401)
• United States
27 Apr 10
There is a bad side effect to chewing gum. Ulcers. See when you chew food your stomach is putting out acids, that are used to digest your food. You chew the food, the stomach acids start flowing, and the food particles go down your throat into your stomach, where they are digested. When you chew gum the process still occurs, cept there is no food particles going to the stomach to digest, so you have that acid just there. The more you do that the more acid is being put out, and it can start to eat holes in your stomach lining. These are ulcers. So its about the same as smoking.
1 person likes this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
28 Apr 10
Hmmm... I asked to confirm your theory on this with regards to the release of gastric juices with my brother who's a doctor and he says that gastric juices are only released when there are fats and proteins present. With regards to the gum, there's no fat nor protein indication there thus the stomach won't really produce those dissolving juices at all.
Further, I don't think it's right to replace food with gum. It's just a way for the binge-eaters like us to control our consumption by perhaps chewing gum before or after meals so as not to consume more than our body needs. 
Oh, by the way, ulcers are caused by the bacteria Helicobacter Pylori and is not because of skipping meals or stress.
Oh, by the way, ulcers are caused by the bacteria Helicobacter Pylori and is not because of skipping meals or stress.@redhotpogo (4401)
• United States
28 Apr 10
If gastric juices only released when fats and proteins were present, then you'ld have chunks of food going through your body.
1 person likes this
@ada8may21 (2405)
• Philippines
26 Apr 10
I did not know that chewing gum has other benefit other than make your mouth going up and down. I've also read in one of the article before that to avoid keep on eating its better to chew gum to avoid or for us not to have appetite in eating.
1 person likes this
@ada8may21 (2405)
• Philippines
27 Apr 10
I hope it will work on you, because it is not effective on me.
Good luck, happy mylotting..
@JJ4Ever (4693)
• United States
3 May 10
I find it really interesting, the benefits of chewing gum. I'm not surprised, to tell you the truth! Chewing gum is a great stress reliever, I imagine. I can also see where weight management would come in because gum can help curb the cravings. This is great news! I don't really neat stress relief (because I rarely become stressed) or weight management since I don't need to lose weight - LOL! I found out a year and a half ago, though, that I'm allergic to an ingredient in chewing gum, so I'm sad to say I cannot enjoy any of the other benefits it offers. I have to carry breath mints around with me now. (LOL) Thanks for sharing - this is indeed interesting!
1 person likes this
@fifileigh (3615)
• United States
27 Apr 10
i agree. i have used gum for all the reasons you listed. if i dont want to eat after 7pm, then i usually either chew gum or drink herb tea. it keeps your mouth busy because when you are watching tv, u want to eat, put something in ur mouth or munch on something. so, it does help me eat less.
i have never smoked. but when i get nervous, i also chew gum, instead. it relieves tension. when i was in junior high, chew gum was a addictive craze in school. the new fad. it also helped me concentrate in class, especially boring classes. in college, i chewed gum when i studied until my mouth got tired of chewing.
and i feel it serves as a flossing form. if i have something stuck in between my teeth, and i dont have a toothpick or floss, i just chew gum and it eventually comes out.
1 person likes this
@cbeee3 (2061)
• India
26 Apr 10
I did know about the weight management. As you rightly said, I too think that it helps curb our hunger since we are constantly chewing on something sweet. As far as the increased alertness is concerned, I can only guess the reason. It could be because when we keep chewing gum continuously, we don't feel sleepy. Think about it we can't chew gum when we are drowsy. So may be constantly chewing gum ensures that we stay awake and our mind is more aware. ;) Just a guess.
Happy myLotting
1 person likes this
@cobrateacher (8432)
• United States
28 Apr 10
Frankly, Laydee, I thought this was common knowledge. There are many benefits to chewing gum, as long as it's not done crudely!
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@Matthammer (385)
•
26 Apr 10
Football manager's chew gum to kerb anxiety and nervousness and some claim it helps them concentrate. In essence this can work as the constant rhythm of the chewing motion an allow you to react to your task in a similar methodical approach. I've chewed gum during exams at university and found between the rhythm of the chewing and my paper i could block out everything else and also found my writing seemed to slow and speed-up in time with the chew.
I imagine this wouldn't work for everyone but helped me.
Dentists suggest that non/low-sugar mint gum can help the teeth. This would not be the case for bazooka or other such though as ultimately you're grinding a sugar cube against your teeth.
@antony2best (583)
• India
26 Apr 10
ohh mine!i have a chewing gum almost everyday.but never knew the benefits of it.my parents used to criticise me for having chewing gums daily.now i can tell them proudly why one should have it.haha!
1 person likes this
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
26 Apr 10
I heard that gum can help in controlling weight but I never believed it. I use to chew gum on a regular basis about three years ago. I think I will start the habit again to see what it does for my weight control.[em]lol[/em Its hard to believe that chewing gum will help you keep alert and focued. As for a person concentrating when chewing that is simple to do because it doesn't take any type of concentrating to chew a piece of gum.
1 person likes this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
27 Apr 10
Thanks for the complements.
Hmmm.. So, why do you think schools don't allow kids to chew gum in class apart from the mess of disposing it? I think it would highly be great in classes that are boring so as to keep the kids alive all throughout the period, don't you think?
@jewishgurl (98)
• United States
26 Apr 10
Yup I have heard about this and I believe it to be true. It makes perfect sense..whenever I am stressed out I end up chewing insurmountable amounts of gum. its insane sometimes lol. Also if I am craving an unhealthy snack, all I have to do is grab a piece of gum and the craving lessens. It is very logical. :) It is best to chew sugarless gum though, that way your teeth affected by the crazy amounts of sugar and there are also less calories. :)
