Chewing gum, or simply gum, can be found in almost every purse or pocket. Advertising from the TV obsessively invites you to try chewing gum with new tastes and useful properties. And among experts there is no consensus about its benefits.
The history of chewing gum dates back to 1848, when John Curtis established its production. Then they talked about such properties as preventing tooth decay and plaque formation. Naturally, in the 19th century, chewing gum was not as available as it is now, because it ended up in the mouth of only very wealthy people.
The opinion that chewing gum is able to rid human teeth from caries is more a myth than a reality. Of course, when the jaws make chewing movements, the tooth enamel cleans itself. This also happens when chewing vegetables, for example. However, the interdental areas remain inaccessible to the chewing gum. As a result, it cannot fully prevent the formation of caries.
According to a number of experts, the active distribution of chewing gum among the population has contributed to an increase in the incidence of teeth and gums.
The main disadvantage of chewing gum is its composition. There is nothing natural about gum. Its main components are latex and dyes. It is believed that latex is completely harmless and harmless to the body, however, full-fledged research on this matter has not been carried out.
Some dentists talk about the dangers of chewing gum for some people. In particular, it is not recommended to get carried away with chewing gum for people suffering from stomach diseases. Chewing gum on an empty stomach between meals can cause excessive gastric secretion. People who have increased abrasion of tooth enamel due to excessive tooth mobility are also not recommended to get carried away with chewing gum.
There is an opinion that chewing gum can help a person stay without fillings on his teeth. However, it is not. Chewing gum will not harm quality fillings.
However, it is worth knowing that uncontrolled use of chewing gum can do real harm. In the process of chewing, there is a load on the salivary glands. If this happens all the time, then a person, even when he stops chewing, will have increased salivation. This condition may be accompanied by a constant urge to spit. This, in turn, is ugly.
It is worth knowing that excessive stress on the jaw is undesirable, because it leads to squeezing of the blood vessels in the gums. This can lead to a number of diseases. This is especially true for children aged 9 to 12 years.
According to statistics, representatives of this age group who abuse gum are more likely to suffer from gingivitis than their peers.
Practically the only property of chewing gum that is not questioned by experts is giving fresh breath. It is recommended to chew it within 10 minutes after eating. This is enough time to enjoy the taste of the chewing gum. It should be remembered that in any case, it is preferable to brush your teeth. In addition, the gum can be used on an airplane or car during a flight or relocation. This helps to avoid nausea on the road.
