The bad side of chewing gum

Chewing gum has been quite popular as a mouth freshener, but its demand has always been on a rise because of its cool factor. Teenagers and youths use chewing gum as a style factor. However, very few people realize that chewing gum has some drawbacks as well.

Monday, May 02, 2011
Chewing gum is annoying when stuck beneath the sole of your shoe!

Chewing gum has been quite popular as a mouth freshener, but its demand has always been on a rise because of its cool factor.

Teenagers and youths use chewing gum as a style factor. However, very few people realize that chewing gum has some drawbacks as well.

Let’s see how it can leave a negative impact on the body:
Constant chewing of gum has a direct effect on our teeth. Especially, chewing gums that contains sugar which can cause decaying of the teeth, gum problems and cavity. This chewing gum covers the surface of the teeth with a flimsy coat which is harmful and makes you lose your natural tooth enamel colour.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ) may be caused due to continuous chewing of gum. As we keep chewing the jaws face a lot of stress that leads to TMJ. Signs of this disorder may include; facial, back and neck pain.

Because of continuous chewing wrinkles may also appear on the face. The skin becomes less elastic and therefore facial wrinkles and folds appear around the mouth and lips.

Doctors who treat such conditions by injecting fillers into the skin to remove the wrinkles often advice that chewing gum should not be used after such treatment.
Also, chewing gum contains powerful gastric juice. According gastroenterologists, chewing on an empty stomach can trigger or aggravate gastritis or other stomach troubles.

It has been observed that the content of chewing gum which are usually rubber base, sweeteners, combined with fragrances and softeners are obviously not good for one’s health.

Chewing gum can cause annoyance to other people! Some people with no manners chew in a peculiar sound that is made by their mouth and this is very annoying.  Besides some gum chewers do not have the mind to wrap their used gum in a paper before disposing it off; as a result, it gets stuck beneath the shoe soles of people.

To avoid such bad effects of chewing gum, one must stop using bubble gum or if using it is inevitable, then do not chew it for more than 10 to 20 minutes; thereafter wrap your sticky gum in a paper and throw it away in a dustbin.

HowsHealth