Chewing Gum

How Is Chewing Gum Bad for You?

 

I’ve been getting into the habit of chewing gum a lot. Some people find it a really gross habit I know, but I’m getting a little addicted to it.

It started off because I have this ‘restless jaw’. For some reason, when I get tensed or stressed I get this really weird tickley muscle tension feeling inside my jaw. The only way to relieve it is to chew, so if I don’t chew food or gum I end up chewing my tongue and cheeks which is a really bad habit to have for obvious reasons.

I then discovered Xylitol gum which is good for preventing cavities. So I started chewing gum after lunch to get rid of the food taste in my mouth and to help protect my teeth. It’s now getting into such a habit that I’m chewing gum three or four times a day.
Is chewing gum bad for you?

I’ve done a little bit of research and I’ve discovered that chewing gum isn’t so bad for you after all. As long as you follow these simple rules.

    Don’t chew gum with added sugar or chemicals, ESPECIALLY avoid aspartame (look for numbers 950 and 951).
    If you suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) don’t chew a lot of gum because it has a laxative effect and chewing gum causes you to swallow excess air which can make you bloated.
    Don’t swallow the gum! Chewing gum is a very sticky substance that is not food and is not meant to be swallowed.

Be careful what gum you chew

Most chewing gums contain Aspartame (951) which is a very nasty chemical and only one of a few that can penetrate through your blood brain barrier. It’s really important not to consume this chemical. Read my blog article, DO NOT eat these foods for more information.
The only place I can find chemical and sugar free gum in Brisbane is in health food stores. There are two brands that I’ve found, Sweet Life Dental and Spry. Both gums are:
    
   sugar free
    contain no artificial sweeteners or Aspartame
    are gluten free and GMO free
 
12590-2.jpgXylitol may have a funny chemical sounding name, but it’s a naturally occurring sweetener found in plants such as corn cobs and birch trees that can be used as a sugar substitute and helps protect your teeth and gums at the same time. I’m a big fan. Chewing xylitol gum prevents oral bacteria producing acid, and helps stimulate saliva in the mouth. This helps restore the natural pH balance which maintains healthy tooth enamel and gums.
If anybody’s heard of any reasons why I shouldn’t be chewing gum, then please let me know. I’m happy to kick this habit if it’s doing me more harm than good.
Contrary to folklore, chewing gum does not take years to pass through the system--it moves through the body like any other piece of roughage, such as popcorn, according to the advice site SixWise.com. Other reported side effects from chronic chewing include flatulence, mouth ulcers--from cinnamon flavoring--as well as high blood pressure and lower potassium levels, due to licorice