10 surprising benefits of sugar-free gum
10 surprising benefits of sugar-free gum
Chewing gum is not only for fun or to make bubbles, it is extended to health, as the health benefits of sugar-free gum are multiple. Many people chew gum for fun or to make bubbles in it, but they do not know that sugar-free gum has many benefits for the body and it may come as a surprise.
In the following, let us learn about the wonderful benefits of chewing sugar-free gum, and a set of important tips.
Benefits of sugar-free gum :
Some of the great benefits of chewing sugar-free gum are:
Among the most important of these benefits are the following:
1. Improved focus and memory
It was found that chewing gum enhances mental performance and cognitive functions, such as: concentration, memory, and reaction times.
Chewing gum helps increase blood flow to the brain, and thus the amount of oxygen available to the brain will increase, thus enhancing people’s memory and cognitive performance.
2. Improved alertness
It turns out that chewing gum can increase wakefulness.
It’s believed that the chewing motion of the jaw stimulates nerves and parts of the brain associated with arousal, as well as increasing blood flow, which may help people feel alert or awake for longer.
Also thought to be particularly useful for this purpose is the mint flavor.
3. Reduce stress and anxiety
One of the benefits of sugar-free gum is that it may help relieve nervous energy and increase feelings of calm, as it was found that chewing gum helps reduce stress hormones, and cortisone, which are released in response to the body’s states of excitement.
Chewing gum is often a great alternative to nervous habits such as biting nails, rocking a leg, or feeling stressed.
4. Protects teeth
Dentists recommend chewing gum for 20 minutes after eating, as it has been shown to reduce plaque (the darkening of the teeth), plaque, stimulate tooth enamel, and reduce gingivitis.
The reason for this is the increased flow of saliva, which reduces the presence of acid on the teeth that causes and damages cavities.
5. Reduces heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease
For some people with reflux and heartburn, chewing gum after meals may help reduce acid in the esophagus by increasing the production of saliva that removes acid more quickly.
6. Refresh the breath
One of the benefits of sugar-free chewing gum, especially mint, is that it refreshes the smell of the mouth, and gets rid of bad smell, if any.
Chewing gum also eliminates bad breath by reducing the level of bacteria in the mouth that causes it.
7. Help smokers quit smoking
Chewing gum is not a major factor in quitting smoking, but the use of products such as: nicotine gum, can help with this.
In addition, chewing gum helps reduce mouth cravings for cigarettes.
8. Relieves dry mouth
Another oral health benefit of chewing sugarless gum includes combating dry mouth. Then, chewing sugar-free gum stimulates saliva production up to 10 times the normal rate.
9. Relieves earache during flights
One of the benefits of sugar-free gum is that it relieves earache that results from changes in air pressure during take-off and landing. The gum also helps to balance the pressure in the ears, through the excess saliva secreted while chewing the gum.
10. Helps to lose weight
Chewing gum helps suppress food cravings and makes you eat less
In fact, chewing gum helps curb cravings for foods rich in sugary substances, which is one of the main reasons behind obesity and weight gain.
It has been found that chewing gum is used as an easy and practical tool for managing cravings and consumption of snacks, especially sweets.
Chewing gum also reduces hunger for food, possibly through alterations in gut hormone responses related to satiety.
Important Tips:
To get the benefits of sugar-free gum, you should follow these tips:
- You should refrain from chewing gum if you suffer from any type of jaw pain or temporomandibular disorder.
- Don’t make chewing gum a substitute for brushing and flossing, as these should be used to maintain good oral hygiene.
- You should choose sugar-free varieties to avoid damage to your teeth due to sugar.
- You should chew gum with your mouth closed, to prevent large amounts of gas from entering the stomach.
