How does chewing gum affect your health?

Health Risks Associated With Chewing Gum And Microplastics Increase.

Is Chewing Gum Bad for Your Health?

For some, chewing gum is a daily ritual — to have fresh breath, to relieve stress or just out of habit. But new research suggests a disturbing truth: with every bite, you could be injecting thousands of microplastic particles into your body.

According to research released in a talk at the American Chemical Society (ACS) meeting, a single piece of chewing gum is capable of releasing hundreds to thousands of microplastics into saliva. Shocking, is that approximately 94% of the particles released occurs in the first 8 minutes of chewing.

Microplastics are associated with potential risks like inflammation, oxidative stress and even DNA damage, so it’s time to reconsider what goes into our mouths.

What’s in Your Chewing Gum? The Unseen Ingredients

The natural ingredients of chewing gum are something most people are aware of, but definitely not the entire story. The base of most of the commercial gums are comprised of Synthetic Polymers, such as:

😱 Polyethylene – A plastic, often found in the shopping bags. 

😱Polyvinyl acetate – Found in adhesives, such as wood glue. 

😱Styrene-butadiene rubber – Used in the manufacture of car tyres and industrial products.

Because these ingredients are plastic-based, they create chewiness but also make gum one of the most significant sources of microplastic consumption.

Microplastics in Your Body: What the Science Says

Microplastics are plastic particles of less than 5mm. Already notorious for polluting the oceans and damaging wildlife, emerging research indicates they are also finding their way into human bodies.

So whenever you chew gum, these particles of microplastic detach and mingle with your saliva, ultimately being swallowed. Accumulation of microplastic in the body may cause:

❌ Gastrointestinal issues — Microplastics can disrupt gut bacteria, leading to digestive problems. 

❌ Inflammation and oxidative stress – Microplastics are thought to act like small molecular irritants and can trigger cellular inflammation, which can increase the risk of chronic diseases according to some research. 

❌ Toxic chemical exposure – Numerous plastics contain toxic chemicals including bisphenols and phthalates,

which can disrupt hormone balance.

Chewing Gum Additives: Beyond the Plastic

Chewing gums also contain artificial additives and food dyes, in addition to microplastics, which may have further adverse effects on your health.

🥵 Titanium dioxide (E171) – It is used as a whitening agent and has been associated with DNA damage and oxidative stress. The EU has prohibited its use in food items, but it’s still allowed in the US and some other countries. 

🥵 Artificial sweeteners – Aspartame, sorbitol, and sucralose, common in sugar-free gum, have been linked to metabolic dysregulation and gut microbiome disturbances. 

🥵 Synthetic food dyes — Some of these dyes have been associated with hyperactivity in children and possible carcinogenic effects.

Together with microplastics, these elements make chewing gum a potentially harmful substance that we should reconsider consuming.

How to Reduce Microplastic Exposure from Chewing Gum

If you are worried about ingesting microplastics, you may want to take these steps to protect your health:

Reduce or Eliminate Gum Consumption — Gum can contain a variety of plastics that can enter your body so cutting down drastically can reduce microplastics in your diet. 

💚Pick Natural Substitutes – Select gum brands containing organic ingredients such as chicle (a natural tree sap), beeswax, or plant-based substitutes. 

💚Read Ingredients – Know what you’re chewing and avoid gluten and sugar alcohols, as well as synthetic polymers and artificial additives. 

💚Get Rid of Gum Properly – Gum Pollutes the environment. Proper disposal can keep the cycle of microplastic contamination from continuing.

THE BETTER WAY TO CHEW: Natural Alternatives

If chewing gum is your jam but you also want to avoid microplastics, here are some healthier, eco-friendly alternatives you can chew on:

🩵Chicle-based gum – Contains no synthetic plastics, derived from natural tree sap. 

🩵Mastic gum – A classic resin-based chewing gums. 

🩵Licorice root – A slightly sweet, chewy, all-natural stick with possible health perks.

🩵Beeswax-based gum – A natural, biodegradable alternative to synthetic gum bases.

These natural alternatives make it possible to reap the benefits of chewing gum without being exposed to toxic microplastics.

The Final Chew: What to Do With Chewing Gum?

Although more research is needed to understand fully the long-run health consequences of microplastic ingestion, the evidence has been alarming thus far. It is totally your call, but knowledge of what you eat is the first step to a good lifestyle.

If you really want to limit your microplastics exposure and avoid nasty additives, think about limiting chewing gum or switching to some natural alternatives. Your body — and the planet — will thank you!

Conscious decisions add up, and we can all take small steps toward improved health and less environmental impact. Will you re-evaluate chewing gum habbit today?

Thanks for reading, 

Have a nice day 😊.