I love chewing gum, but what are the pros and cons of it, and does it really help clean your teeth?

Question

If so, is a toothbrush the best optin even still?

Answer 1

The toothbrush can not be replaced.

Gum can help in that it increases the amount of saliva in your mouth, "rinsing" bacteria from your teeth. However, this is only a benefit when using sugarless gum.

I think too much gum chewing tho can potential be a problem and can lead to TMJ.

So like mom always says- "everything in moderation".

Answer 2

Nutrition is one determining factor when it comes to health and weight loss. Combined with an efficient training program, anybody can lose excess body weight and construct a hard, defined body. The idea behind dieting and exercising is to decrease body fat and increase muscle mass. Numerous techniques have been tested to assist in diminishing fat cells and one study has discovered a virtually effortless way to lose weight. By chewing sugar-free gum, it is possible to lose up to 11 pounds of extra weight per year.


Results published in the New England Journal of Medicine last week show that sugar-free gum chewers can burn off a considerable amount of weight each year. Researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, hooked seven students up to a machine and measured the content of exhaled air, which allowed them to measure the amount of energy expended by each individual.

The first measurement was taken during a 30-minute rest period (without chewing gum) and the average energy expenditure was 58 kilocalories an hour.

Next, subjects were given sugar-free gum and instructed to chew 100 times per minute for a period of 12 minutes. The measurement after the chewing activity resulted in an elevation in the metabolic rate, which burned an average of 70 kilocalories an hour.

The results from this study indicate that chewing sugar-free gum at 100 chews per minute will raise the metabolic rate by approximately 20%, and someone chewing gum all-day can burn off an equivalent of 11 pounds of a year.

Benefits and disadvantages of chewing gum

Chewing sugar-free gum can help fight cavities (with the added chlorophyll), kill bad breath and is now proven to help control weight. Even though gum must be chewed practically every waking hour to effectively lose the full 11 pounds early, it should not be discarded as an ineffective way of weight control.

Chewing gum daily for extended periods of time also has reported disadvantages. Having no time to slow down and rest appropriately, the stomach and intestines may become exhausted. So, concerns about stomach burns, ulcers and risks of different cancers arise. Obviously, further research must be done on these possible negative side effects of constant gum-chewing. But for now, the idea of chewing one's fat away seems like a breakthrough discovery.

Answer 3

Brushing your teeth and going to your dentist regularly is best but, some of the new gums are great for inbetween but only sugerless or you will get cavities.

Answer 4

A pro would be getting your brainwaves more active while chewing.