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
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