Oral Health
Oral health includes the health of the teeth, gums, and tongue. An adequate intake of essential vitamins and minerals is paramount to maintaining oral health.
Last Updated:August 16, 2022
Oral health pertains to the health of the teeth, gums, and tongue. Diseases such as dental caries (also known as cavities), gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), and periodontitis (infection of the gums) can significantly impact oral health.
Getting enough dietary vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, folic acid, and calcium are important for maintaining the health of the teeth and gums.[1] Therefore, consuming a diverse diet that contains adequate amounts of these nutrients will help foster optimal oral health. Additionally, excessive sugar consumption contributes to the development of dental caries.[2]
Chewing gum can provide health benefits like improved oral health and reduced hunger and stress levels. However, for some people these are balanced out by possible downsides like increased headaches.
Most people have chewed gum at some point in their lives. It’s possible you’re chewing gum right now as you read this post. But are there any health benefits to chewing gum? How about detriments?
Oral health
There’s one benefit that chewing gum aficionados are often aware of: improved oral health.[8][9] After eating a meal, some of the leftover food stuck in your mouth gets broken down by oral cavity microbes, which produce acidic byproducts that can damage our teeth.
Chewing gum may offset this by increasing saliva production, which helps neutralize these acidic compounds.[10] Recent research has also found that gum can trap and remove bacteria from your mouth.[11]
Chewing gum containing xylitol has shown extra benefit, since xylitol reduces levels of the acid-producing (and hence enamel-eroding) bacterium mutans streptococci.[12]
Alertness
The majority of studies that looked into chewing gum before cognitive tasks showed increased alertness and sustained attention, [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] while one of them showed mixed results with decreased alertness but increased sustained attention.[24] One systematic review summarized the findings of 22 studies that investigated the effects of chewing gum on sustained attention and found that more than half of the studies found positive effects.[25]
The process of mastication (chewing) seems to increase overall blood flow to the brain as well as to specific brain regions, which may be the mechanism responsible for increasing attention and alertness. Studies in various populations are lacking though. For example, one study found that chewing gum had a negative impact on vigilance in children with ADHD, and also had no impact on sustained attention.[26]
Chewing gum seems to increase alertness and sustained attention, although the evidence isn’t conclusive, especially for specific populations.
Anxiety
The effects of chewing gum on anxiety and stress also seem to be fairly consistent. A number of studies have found that chewing gum decreases anxiety and stress,[27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] but a few have also found no detectable effect.[36][37][38]
The mechanism isn’t fully understood, but gum chewing has been found to increase cerebral blood flow and alter brain waves, and these effects may also be influenced by gum flavor.[39][40]
Chewing gum seems to have a somewhat consistent positive effect on anxiety and stress.
Appetite
A few studies over the years have investigated the effects of chewing gum on appetite and hunger, finding that chewing gum seems to reduce subjective appetite and reduce snack energy intake.[41][42][43] One study even found that it reduced hunger by increasing satiety.[44]
Gum chewing might trick your brain into (sort of) thinking you’re eating. It increases the levels of an intestinal hormone called GLP-1, which is involved in producing the feeling of satiety.[45]
Chewing gum may reduce energy intake from snacking, and may reduce hunger levels.
Headaches and TMJ
While chewing gum might provide some interesting benefits, it doesn’t come without potential detriments: in certain people, chewing gum seems to worsen headaches, and a few studies have found associations between gum chewing frequency and headache frequency.[46][47]
Excessive gum chewing also is correlated with worse TMJ (temporomandibular joint) symptoms,[48] and TMJ problems can be headache triggers.[49]
If you’re prone to tension or migraine headaches, or TMJ issues, you might want to avoid excessive gum chewing.
The bottom line
Gum chewing is somewhat akin to drinking coffee. It's a common habit that has mixed evidence, with a decent number of studies showing potential benefit, and just a few suggesting potential for harm. Remember that the dose is important here: excessive gum chewing is much more likely to cause problems than occasional chewing. If you find that gum chewing helps lower your appetite, or improve your anxiety or oral health... chew away!
- ^Gondivkar SM, Gadbail AR, Gondivkar RS, Sarode SC, Sarode GS, Patil S, Awan KHNutrition and oral health.Dis Mon.(2019-Jun)
- ^Moynihan PJ, Kelly SAEffect on caries of restricting sugars intake: systematic review to inform WHO guidelines.J Dent Res.(2014-Jan)
- ^Cagetti MG, Wolf TG, Tennert C, Camoni N, Lingström P, Campus GThe Role of Vitamins in Oral Health. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Int J Environ Res Public Health.(2020-02-03)
- ^Gerreth P, Maciejczyk M, Zalewska A, Gerreth K, Hojan KComprehensive Evaluation of the Oral Health Status, Salivary Gland Function, and Oxidative Stress in the Saliva of Patients with Subacute Phase of Stroke: A Case-Control Study.J Clin Med.(2020-Jul-15)
- ^Machado V, Aguilera EM, Botelho J, Hussain SB, Leira Y, Proença L, D'Aiuto F, Mendes JJAssociation between Periodontitis and High Blood Pressure: Results from the Study of Periodontal Health in Almada-Seixal (SoPHiAS).J Clin Med.(2020-May-23)
- ^Aida J, Kondo K, Yamamoto T, Hirai H, Nakade M, Osaka K, Sheiham A, Tsakos G, Watt RGOral health and cancer, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality of Japanese.J Dent Res.(2011-Sep)
- ^Beck JD, Papapanou PN, Philips KH, Offenbacher SPeriodontal Medicine: 100 Years of Progress.J Dent Res.(2019-09)
- ^Simons D, Brailsford SR, Kidd EA, Beighton DThe effect of medicated chewing gums on oral health in frail older people: a 1-year clinical trialJ Am Geriatr Soc.(2002 Aug)
- ^Fu Y, Li X, Ma H, Yin W, Que K, Hu D, Dodds MW, Tian MAssessment of chewing sugar-free gums for oral debris reduction: a randomized controlled crossover clinical trialAm J Dent.(2012 Apr)
- ^Itthagarun A, Wei SHChewing gum and saliva in oral healthJ Clin Dent.(1997)
- ^Wessel SW, van der Mei HC, Morando D, Slomp AM, van de Belt-Gritter B, Maitra A, Busscher HJQuantification and qualification of bacteria trapped in chewed gumPLoS One.(2015 Jan 20)
- ^Nayak PA, Nayak UA, Khandelwal VThe effect of xylitol on dental caries and oral floraClin Cosmet Investig Dent.(2014 Nov 10)
- ^Smith AEffects of chewing gum on mood, learning, memory and performance of an intelligence testNutr Neurosci.(2009 Apr)
- ^Tänzer U, von Fintel A, Eikermann TChewing gum and concentration performancePsychol Rep.(2009 Oct)
- ^Tucha L, Simpson WThe role of time on task performance in modifying the effects of gum chewing on attentionAppetite.(2011 Apr)
- ^Johnson AJ, Jenks R, Miles C, Albert M, Cox MChewing gum moderates multi-task induced shifts in stress, mood, and alertness. A re-examinationAppetite.(2011 Apr)
- ^Johnson AJ, Miles C, Haddrell B, Harrison E, Osborne L, Wilson N, Jenks RThe effect of chewing gum on physiological and self-rated measures of alertness and daytime sleepinessPhysiol Behav.(2012 Feb 1)
- ^Allen AP, Smith APEffects of chewing gum and time-on-task on alertness and attentionNutr Neurosci.(2012 Jul)
- ^Allen AP, Smith APDemand characteristics, pre-test attitudes and time-on-task trends in the effects of chewing gum on attention and reported mood in healthy volunteersAppetite.(2012 Oct)
- ^Johnson AJ, Muneem M, Miles CChewing gum benefits sustained attention in the absence of task degradationNutr Neurosci.(2013 Jul)
- ^Hirano Y, Obata T, Takahashi H, Tachibana A, Kuroiwa D, Takahashi T, Ikehira H, Onozuka MEffects of chewing on cognitive processing speedBrain Cogn.(2013 Apr)
- ^Allen AP, Jacob TJ, Smith APEffects and after-effects of chewing gum on vigilance, heart rate, EEG and moodPhysiol Behav.(2014 Jun 22)
- ^Allen AP, Smith APChewing gum: cognitive performance, mood, well-being, and associated physiologyBiomed Res Int.(2015)
- ^Tucha O, Mecklinger L, Maier K, Hammerl M, Lange KWChewing gum differentially affects aspects of attention in healthy subjectsAppetite.(2004 Jun)
- ^Hirano Y, Onozuka MChewing and attention: a positive effect on sustained attentionBiomed Res Int.(2015)
- ^Tucha L, Simpson W, Evans L, Birrel L, Sontag TA, Lange KW, Tucha ODetrimental effects of gum chewing on vigilance in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorderAppetite.(2010 Dec)
- ^Scholey A, Haskell C, Robertson B, Kennedy D, Milne A, Wetherell MChewing gum alleviates negative mood and reduces cortisol during acute laboratory psychological stressPhysiol Behav.(2009 Jun 22)
- ^Zibell S, Madansky EImpact of gum chewing on stress levels: online self-perception research studyCurr Med Res Opin.(2009 Jun)
- ^Sasaki-Otomaru A, Sakuma Y, Mochizuki Y, Ishida S, Kanoya Y, Sato CEffect of regular gum chewing on levels of anxiety, mood, and fatigue in healthy young adultsClin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health.(2011)
- ^Sketchley-Kaye K, Jenks R, Miles C, Johnson AJChewing gum modifies state anxiety and alertness under conditions of social stressNutr Neurosci.(2011 Nov)
- ^Gray G, Miles C, Wilson N, Jenks R, Cox M, Johnson AJThe contrasting physiological and subjective effects of chewing gum on social stressAppetite.(2012 Apr)
- ^Smith AP, Chaplin K, Wadsworth EChewing gum, occupational stress, work performance and wellbeing. An intervention studyAppetite.(2012 Jun)
- ^Smith AP, Woods MEffects of chewing gum on the stress and work of university studentsAppetite.(2012 Jun)
- ^Smith AEffects of chewing gum on stress and health: a replication and investigation of dose-responseStress Health.(2013 Apr)
- ^Konno M, Takeda T, Kawakami Y, Suzuki Y, Kawano Y, Nakajima K, Ozawa T, Ishigami K, Takemura N, Sakatani KRelationships Between Gum-Chewing and StressAdv Exp Med Biol.(2016)
- ^Torney LK, Johnson AJ, Miles CChewing gum and impasse-induced self-reported stressAppetite.(2009 Dec)
- ^Ekuni D, Tomofuji T, Takeuchi N, Morita MGum chewing modulates heart rate variability under noise stressActa Odontol Scand.(2012 Dec)
- ^Walker J, Hosiner A, Kergoat S, Walker JM, Somoza VChewing unflavored gum does not reduce cortisol levels during a cognitive task but increases the response of the sympathetic nervous systemPhysiol Behav.(2016 Feb 1)
- ^Hasegawa Y, Tachibana Y, Sakagami J, Zhang M, Urade M, Ono TFlavor-Enhanced Modulation of Cerebral Blood Flow during Gum ChewingPLoS One.(2013 Jun 19)
- ^Morinushi T, Masumoto Y, Kawasaki H, Takigawa MEffect on electroencephalogram of chewing flavored gumPsychiatry Clin Neurosci.(2000 Dec)
- ^Hetherington MM, Boyland EShort-term effects of chewing gum on snack intake and appetiteAppetite.(2007 May)
- ^Hetherington MM, Regan MFEffects of chewing gum on short-term appetite regulation in moderately restrained eatersAppetite.(2011 Oct)
- ^Melanson KJ, Kresge DLChewing gum decreases energy intake at lunch following a controlled breakfastAppetite.(2017 Nov 1)
- ^Park E, Edirisinghe I, Inui T, Kergoat S, Kelley M, Burton-Freeman BShort-term effects of chewing gum on satiety and afternoon snack intake in healthy weight and obese womenPhysiol Behav.(2016 May 15)
- ^Xu J, Xiao X, Li Y, Zheng J, Li W, Zhang Q, Wang ZThe effect of gum chewing on blood GLP-1 concentration in fasted, healthy, non-obese menEndocrine.(2015 Sep)
- ^Lippi G, Cervellin G, Mattiuzzi CGum-Chewing and Headache: An Underestimated Trigger of Headache Pain in Migraineurs?CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets.(2015)
- ^Watemberg N, Matar M, Har-Gil M, Mahajnah MThe influence of excessive chewing gum use on headache frequency and severity among adolescentsPediatr Neurol.(2014 Jan)
- ^Tabrizi R, Karagah T, Aliabadi E, Hoseini SADoes gum chewing increase the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders in individuals with gum chewing habits?J Craniofac Surg.(2014 Sep)
- ^Graff-Radford SBTemporomandibular disorders and headacheDent Clin North Am.(2007 Jan)