Chewing gum might seem like a harmless habit; it freshens breath, keeps your mouth busy, and it helps some people to focus. But beneath the minty freshness lies a sticky reality: frequent gum chewing can come with some surprising drawbacks.

From jaw strain to digestive issues, that innocent little wad of gum could be causing more trouble than it’s worth.

Whether you’re a chronic chewer or just pop a piece now and then, it’s worth knowing the potential cons before you reach for your next stick.

Jaw problems (TMJ disorders)

Chewing gum can lead to symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), which includes jaw pain associated with the chewing muscles and joints that connect your lower jaw to your skull.

Constant gum chewing puts excessive force on the two joints that connect your lower jaw to your skull joints, muscles and teeth, which leads to overstress, imbalance and misalignment.

The muscles bring your jaw together so you can chew and move your jaw from side to side.

Usually, you chew to break food into smaller pieces that you can swallow.

With gum chewing, though, you’re chewing just to … chew. Dentists consider gum chewing to be parafunctional, or outside of normal function.

Digestive issues

Your stomach needs time to rest from food in order to digest, but if you consistently chew gum, you swallow an excessive amount of spit, not allowing your body to properly digest.

The chewing also signals to your body that you are about to swallow food, so the enzymes and acids that your body uses to digest are activated, causing all sorts of problems.

Your body can become bloated, start to over-produce stomach acid, and lessen your ability to digest food when you actually do eat.

The artificial sweeteners in the gum can also cause diarrhoea and gastrointestinal problems.

Unhealthy cravings

Chewing gum before a meal is often recommended as a way to reduce hunger and eat less.

However, a recent study published in the journal Eating Behaviours debunks this belief.

The study shows that gum chewing not only has no effect on calories consumed, but chewing mint-flavoured gum reduces the intake of healthy food and increases the likelihood of eating junk food such as potato chips and candy.

This is due to the minty flavour of the gum that makes fruits and vegetables taste bitter.

Developing gastrointestinal problems

Chewing gum can cause you to swallow excess air, leading to bloating and discomfort.

Sugar-free gums often contain sorbitol or xylitol, which can cause diarrhoea or stomach cramps if consumed in large amounts.

The sugar alcohols used to sweeten sugar-free gum have a laxative effect when consumed in large amounts. This means that chewing lots of sugar-free gum could cause digestive distress and diarrhoea.

Additionally, all sugar alcohols are FODMAPs, which can cause digestive problems for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Chewing gum can lead to stress in your stomach and intestines. It can worsen the symptoms of IBS.

Tooth damage

In an effort to avoid the laxative effect of artificially sweetened gum, switching to sugar-sweetened gum may sound logical, but it’s fraught with its own issues.  

Gum containing sugar increases the risk of cavities, as bacteria in the mouth feed on sugar and produce acid that erodes enamel.

Even sugar-free gum can be dangerous for your teeth, as it can contain artificial flavours and preservatives that can cause your teeth to slowly dissolve.

If chewed too aggressively, it potentially wears down tooth enamel or dental work, and if you have mercury fillings, chewing gum can allow the neurotoxin to be released into your body.

It may also cause a tooth fracture that happens because you grind your teeth when chewing.  

Masking bad breath instead of treating it

Gum only temporarily covers bad breath instead of addressing root issues like gum disease, dry mouth, or stomach problems. One of the main causes of bad breath is dry mouth.

Chewing gum increases saliva flow, which helps keep your mouth moist and fresh. Most sugar-free gums contain minty flavours that can instantly make your breath smell fresher.

However, this is just a temporary solution; gum doesn’t actually eliminate the bacteria causing bad breath or address the root cause.

If your bad breath is due to poor oral hygiene, gum disease, or digestive issues, gum alone won’t solve the problem.

It’s best to address the root cause with proper oral hygiene and professional dental care.

Headaches and migraines  

Constant jaw movement can strain muscles, leading to tension headaches or even migraines in sensitive individuals.

There’s a link between temporomandibular disorders and head pain because gum chewing places a heavy load on the temporomandibular joint, explaining why it can trigger migraines.

Overeating  

Chewing tricks the brain into expecting food, which may increase hunger and lead to overeating later. When you chew gum, it stimulates the production of saliva and gastric juices, preparing your stomach for incoming food.

As you swallow the saliva, your body assumes a meal is on its way. However, when no food arrives, this can lead to increased hunger. It’s akin to tricking your digestive system into believing it’s about to work, only to leave it empty.

This reaction can lead to a stronger appetite and even cravings, especially if chewing gum becomes a regular pre-meal habit. Some studies also note that the action of chewing without consuming actual food is similar to chewing and spitting out food.

The body anticipates nutrients but ends up deprived, potentially triggering a stronger urge to eat when a meal finally occurs.

Environmental impact

Most gum is non-biodegradable and contributes to litter and pollution. When people discard their used gum on the streets, it becomes a persistent form of litter that is difficult to remove.  

One of the main challenges with chewing gum waste is its composition. Traditional chewing gum was made from chicle, a natural latex derived from the sapodilla tree.

However, modern chewing gum is made from synthetic rubber, such as polyisobutylene, which is also used in the manufacture of inner tubes and other rubber products.

This synthetic base makes the gum more durable and chewable, but it also means that it does not break down naturally in the environment.

Meaning that gum waste can remain in the environment for many years.

Chewing a sheep by-product

Lanolin, an ingredient found in skincare products, keeps chewing gum soft. It doesn’t sound too bad until you find out it’s a yellow-waxy substance secreted by the sebaceous glands of sheep.

Known as “wool fat,” lanolin is harvested by squeezing the sheep’s harvested wool between rollers.

Though in the amounts utilised in chewing gum, it hardly poses a threat to one’s health, the thought of digesting it may be a bit unsavoury.