Know How Chewing Gum Is Bad For You

By Niharika Choudhary

Friday, May 6, 2016, 15:38 [IST]

If I ask you why do we eat chewing gum, you might give me answers such as to freshen up or to whiten the teeth, or do jaw exercises, etc.

However, the most eerie experience we all might have had from a chewing gum is the one in which the chewing gum got stuck to you, as it was somewhere beneath your seat, your shoes or the most frantic one to your hair.

Since our childhood, chewing gums have always been very tempting. The more it was prohibited at places, the more we loved chewing it.

And the alluring smell! Aaah! I've always wondered what went into them that made them smell so delicious, taste delicious and even delicious to look at.

Those brilliant pop of colours, fancy packing, hard-hitting advertisements and the availability in almost all the flavours, made those little gums an eye candy for everyone.

Chewing gums all the time is the new rouge. Chewing, chewing and more chewing, whether you are at home, at school, at college or work, irrespective of whatever you do.

But the revelations about chewing gums I am going to make today are going to shatter all those myths.

So, let me tell you what you are about to read could be a spoiler alert, and you might think twice before popping a gum the next time.

You're Chewing A Sheep By-product In Your Gum

That almost made me sick in the stomach! Yes, the ingredient that makes your gum so soft is called lanolin.

Lanolin is a yellow, waxy substance that is secreted by the sebaceous glands of sheep, it is commonly known as "wool fat''.

The process of harvesting lanolin is way more interesting, it is harvested by squeezing the sheep's wool between rollers.

However, the amount used in your chewing gum doesn't pose any threat to your health.

Risk Of Increasing TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder)

TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) is a kind of a jaw disorder. Regularly chewing gums can exaggerate your pre-existing jaw disorder like TMJ.

Excessive gum chewing might also rupture the cartilage and joints in your mouth.

Damage Your Tooth

Excessive gum chewing can contribute to tooth decay.

The amount of sugar loaded in your gum makes it easy to damage the teeth and gums.

Even if you chew excessive sugar-free gums, the acidic flavourings and preservatives may in fact lead to dental erosion.

Build Air Pockets Inside Your Stomach

Regular gum chewing can produce excessive "air pockets" that can put pressure on the intestine and cause cramping and bloating.

This eventually results into upsetting your stomach.

The artificial sweeteners in sugar-free gums also exaggerates this situation.

Loads Of Artificial Sweeteners

Gums with artificial sweeteners are even more harmful.

They not only cause dental erosion but also have other bad effects.

One such ingredient called Aaspartame, found in the 'sugar-free' gums, has been linked to brain tumours, cancer and birth defects.

Excessive Gum Chewing Could Hit Your Metabolism

Excessive gum chewing stimulates the production of saliva for a very long time, this could prevent and affect other metabolic functions too.

It Can Cause Headaches

Chewing gum all the time can result into tightening of the muscles close to your temples.

This can eventually put an immense pressure on the oxygen-supplying nerves in this area of your head, leading to chronic headaches.

Chewing Gum Doesn’t Get Rid Of Bad Breath

Chewing gum only masks your bad breath for a minute or two.

Bad breath is actually a problem of excessive tooth decay or digestive problems.

So, refrain from chewing that gum and inculcate a more healthy habit instead.

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