Why Chewing Gum Might Be Hurting Your Health - AI Podcast

Story at-a-glance Both synthetic and "natural" chewing gums release hundreds to thousands of microplastic particles per piece, with an average person ingesting 30,000 microplastics annually from gum alone Chewing gum is a "parafunctional" activity that causes or worsens TMJ disorders, leading to jaw pain, headaches and even tooth fractures with prolonged use While gum increases saliva production, which helps neutralize acids and reduce cavity risk, this benefit doesn't outweigh the risks of plastic ingestion and jaw strain Researchers found that 94% of microplastic particles detach within the first eight minutes of chewing, suggesting even brief gum use significantly increases plastic exposure Healthier alternatives include sipping water, oil pulling with coconut oil, using tongue scrapers or chewing fresh ginger for breath freshening without the harmful effects