Dr Michelle Dickinson: nanotechnologist on why chewing gum can make you feel calmer

Humans have been chewing gum for thousands of years - from ancient tree resins to modern spearmint sticks, the habit has endured across cultures and centuries. Now, research in the journal in the journal Brain Science finds what gum-chewers have long suspected - chewing gum can really affect how our brains work.  The story of gum goes back at least 8,000 years. Archaeological evidence shows that early humans chewed birchbark pitch to soften it into glue for making tools. Ancient Greeks chewed mastic resin, Native Americans used spruce sap, and the Maya enjoyed chicle, a natural latex from sapodilla trees. While these substances had practical uses, people also seemed to enjoy their soothing, calming effects.  Chewing gum as we know it took off in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, thanks largely to William Wrigley Jr. who transformed gum from a novelty into an everyday habit. His brands, including Juicy Fruit and Spearmint, promised more than just flavour they sold gum as a solution for nervousness, hunger and lack of focus.  Even back then, some researchers were intrigued. A study in the 1940s found that people who chewed gum appeared less tense, though scientists couldn’t explain why.  A 2025 scientific review examined more than 30 years of brain-imaging studies on gum chewing. Using technologies such as MRI scans, EEG recordings and near-infrared spectroscopy, the researchers looked at what happens inside the brain when people chew.  They found that chewing gum doesn’t just activate the muscles and sensory areas needed to move the jaw. It also affects brain regions involved in attention, alertness and emotional regulation. In EEG studies, chewing was linked to short-term changes in brain-wave patterns associated with heightened alertness and what researchers describe as 'relaxed concentration.' That may explain why gum seems to help during dull or repetitive tasks. 'If you’re doing a fairly boring task for a long time, chewing seems to be able to help with concentration'. The review also found that chewing gum can reduce stress, but only under certain conditions. In lab experiments, people who chewed gum during mildly stressful situations, such as public speaking or mental math exercises, often reported feeling less anxious. However, gum didn’t consistently help in high-stress medical situations, like right before surgery, or when participants faced impossible tasks designed to provoke frustration.  Some experts think the effect may be related to fidgeting. Chewing gives the brain a simple, repetitive action to latch onto, which may help regulate attention and stress. As the researchers noted, chewing gum appears capable of influencing brain activity 'beyond simple oral motor control,' even if the effects are often short-lived.  For now, chewing gum isn’t a miracle cure for stress or focus, but it may offer a small, temporary boost during boring or mildly stressful moments. After thousands of years, science is finally beginning to explain why such a simple habit has stuck around. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.