Sad boy by Aruna Ganesh
Chewing gum, Source
Have you ever been told by your parents to not chew gum since it is bad for your health or teeth? As a kid, we all used to ask for a piece of gum more often. Even as an adult, you might chew gum to cure your bad breathe in the mornings or between your meals, but is it true that chewing gum is only harmful for us? Recent studies show that chewing gum has some benefits beside its drawbacks. So, it could actually be somehow good for you. Here is the science behind the advantages and disadvantages of chewing gum.
Advantages of chewing gum
In a very recent study, Stefan Wessel and a team of researchers at the University of Groningen have confirmed their hypothesis that chewing gum would be as effective as flossing in fighting against bacteria and removing germs from your oral cavity. In the study, the researchers examined the volunteers’ gums, that were given to them, of 5 individuals after a few minutes, they found out that the gums trapped around a hundred million bacteria, the bacteria that would otherwise cause infections and tooth decay.
The video below by DNews highlights the importance of chewing gum.
Another advantage of chewing gum, which was discovered by Kate Morgan, is that it increases a person’s concentration and awareness. When you chew a gum, the flow of blood that reaches to part of your brain called the Temporal Lobes increases, so it causes you to have a better perception and visual memory task.
Disadvantages of chewing gum
According to a research in 2013, the scientists revealed that chewing gum causes a disorder in individuals’ diets. The study found out that those who chew gum before their meals tend to eat more. Besides, they would have fewer daily meals than people who do not chew gum before their meals.
Moreover, in a study by Nathan Watemberg, the researcher found out that chewing gum and headaches are related. He discovered that those individuals who chew gum too much have more headaches symptoms. This is because of the pressure inserted into Temporomandibular Joint in the jaw when we chew a gum.
Check out this video below by LVI TV, talking about drawbacks of chewing gum and how it causes headaches:
Should we chew gum or not?
Well, now we all know that chewing gum has both advantages and disadvantages for our health, but that does not mean we should not chew gum. We can take advantage of chewing gum by not consuming it excessively while getting its benefits.
-Amirhossein Tashakor
