IS CHEWING BUBBLEGUM GOOD FOR HEALTH?

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Unusual for a confectionery, chewing gum has some health benefits; sugar-free chewing gum stimulates saliva production, and helps to neutralize the effect of acids that follow meals. Sugared gum has been shown to increase tooth decay when used regularly. Chewing gum has also been identified with improving memory according to various studies. Also, it is known that gum-chewers scored 25% higher than the control group on immediate word recall tests, and 36% higher on delayed word recall tests. Scientists point to three, non-mutually exclusive reasons, the simplest of which attributes the higher scores to the gum-chewers' increased heart rate (and, by extension, increased blood flow to the brain). [1] Despite this, chewing gum is banned in many schools. The chewing process expends approximately 12 calories per hour (14 watts) and chewing gum when travelling on an aircraft can counteract the irritation caused by changes in air pressure. [2] Gum containing the sugar alcohol xylitol can help counteract tooth decay. Minty chewing gum can help clear nasal passages. Some oral surgeons and orthodontists believe chewing gum can lead to problems with the tempromandibular joint, and recommend people not chew gum if they experience headaches, muscle fatigue, or pain in their jaw after doing so.