Good Things About Chewing Gum

Chewing gum is an ancient snack. Originally the ancient Mayans and Greeks chewed on tree sap. When the colonists arrived in America, the Native Americans introduced them to spruce sap for chewing. Since then the confectionery arts have come a long way. There are no tree parts in our modern-day gum. Rather it's comprised of a synthetic gum base with added sugar and flavorings. What many people don't realize is that this "candy" actually has some health benefits.

Cleansing

• When you're on the road without a toothbrush you can use gum as a way to "brush" your teeth. It's best to use a sugar-free gum for this purpose. As you chew the gum, it cleans the surface of your teeth.

Promoting Saliva

• Chewing gum promotes saliva production in your mouth. Saliva contains carbohydrates and enzymes, and important bacteria-fighting antibodies. As a result, saliva reduces the acids that cause teeth decay.

Bad Breath

• Chewing gum helps alleviate bad breath. Some manufacturers make flavored gum with strong aromatic overtones specifically for this purpose. Additionally, some gum formulas include magnolia bark extract, which fights the germs that cause bad breath.

Improved Focus

• According to studies done at the Baylor College of Medicine, children who chew gum do better on tests and homework. The study also revealed that gum chewer's final grades were higher than those who did not chew gum.

Dieting

• A study done at Louisiana State University showed that chewing gum after a meal decreases snacking. That means chewing gum can help dieters deter cravings.