The Marvelous Health Benefits of Chewing Gum

When I was a child, I loved chewing gum. That love has stuck with me throughout the years. I feel like I'm in the minority, though, as many people I know rarely chew gum, if they chew it at all. Many parents I know don't even allow their kids to chew gum. You hear the negative stuff about gum, that it causes cavities and TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) in the jaws. But, chewing gum has some positive attributes that you never hear about. Read this informative article and learn about the marvelous health benefits of chewing gum!

Chewing Gum Is Actually Good for Your Teeth

Chewing gum that contains sugar promotes tooth decay. We all know this. But sugar-free gum actually provides a health benefit- it fights cavities. Chew a piece of sugar-free gum after you eat a meal, and the chewing action will stimulate your salivary glands. The saliva will help wash away the food particles and reduce the acids and bacteria on your teeth. Chewing gum is a good idea when you can't brush your teeth after a meal.

Choose a sugar-free gum like SuperSmile All Natural Whitening Gum and you can clean and whiten your teeth at the same time.

Chewing Gum Helps Relieve Dry Mouth and Strengthens Your Teeth

If you have a chronic dry mouth problem, likely due to a medical condition or prescriptions you're taking, chewing gum can help stimulate your salivary glands, More saliva means there's more calcium and phosphate in your mouth to help fortify your teeth too, another health benefit.

Chewing Gum Can Help You Curb Your Appetite and Lose Weight

Whenever you're tempted to snack in-between meals, chewing a piece of gum instead will curb your appetite and save you calories. The calories you won't be eating can really add up quickly if your favorite snacks are high-calorie foods like potato chips, candy and pastries. And that's not all- chewing gum while you're cooking a meal will keep you from nibbling. Put a piece of gum in your mouth after each meal, and it will freshen your breath and make your mouth feel clean. The gum will also help you lose weight because chewing it will keep you from taking another helping of food. Chewing gum can also help your digestion and

reduce heartburn, and benefit your health.

Chewing gum at night is a great way to keep your mouth busy so you're not snacking while you're sitting in front of the TV, too.

An added bonus of chewing gum is, according to the Mayo Clinic, chew it for an hour, and you'll burn about 11 calories!

Chewing Gum Can Help You Think Better

Another marvelous health benefit of chewing gum is, it can improve your concentration and make you feel more alert. Studies have revealed that chewing gum improves the blood flow to the brain. So if you're studying for a test, or just trying to learn something, put a piece of chewing gum in your mouth! It will help you think better so you can learn and retain information.

Chewing Gum Can Help You Kick the Nicotine Habit

If you're trying to quit smoking, chewing gum can also help you do that. By putting a piece of gum in your mouth instead of lighting up, your mouth will be kept "busy". It can help you overcome the "oral fixation" many smokers are thought to have. According to about.com, "Individuals with an oral fixation may have problems with drinking, smoking, eating or nail biting."

Resources

http://www.eatright.org/ada/files/FINAL_Wrigley_FINAL.pdf

http://www.pioneerthinking.com/nc_studyhabits.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A172342