Every time you chew gum, you're swallowing thousands of plastic particles.

Send us a text

Chew on this: that innocent stick of gum in your pocket might be hiding something concerning. Fresh research has uncovered the presence of over 250,000 microplastic particles released in just one hour of gum chewing. More alarming still, these particles originate from the gum base itself and enter your body through direct oral exposure.

Our deep dive explores this groundbreaking March 2025 study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials. We break down how researchers employed ingenious detection methods—combining common household items like aluminum foil with gold nanoparticles—to identify both microplastics and the even smaller nanoplastics present in saliva after chewing gum. These innovative techniques allowed scientists to see what has been invisible to us for years: the steady stream of plastic particles we've been unknowingly ingesting.

The health implications demand attention. With researchers themselves describing these particles as a "burgeoning health hazard," we discuss practical steps you can take today to mitigate this exposure. From examining gum ingredients more carefully to seeking out natural alternatives or simply reducing consumption, there are actionable ways to address this newly identified risk. We also explore the broader question that emerges from this discovery: what other seemingly harmless daily habits might be introducing unseen threats to our long-term wellness? For personalized guidance on navigating these health considerations and optimizing your longevity, connect with the LifeWellMD team at 561-210-9999 or visit LifeWellMD.com to take control of your health journey today.

Disclaimer:
The information provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your supplement regimen or health routine. Individual needs and reactions vary, so it’s important to make informed decisions with the guidance of your physician.

Connect with Us:
If you enjoyed today’s episode, be sure to subscribe, leave us a review, and share it with someone who might benefit. For more insights and updates, visit our website at Lifewellmd.com.

Stay Informed, Stay Healthy:
Remember, informed choices lead to better health. Until next time, be well and take care of yourself.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
You know those little habits, we have the things we
do almost without thinking, likechewing gum.
Have you ever stopped andwondered what exactly is in that
stuff and where it goes?

Speaker 2 (00:13):
That's a really good point.
We tend to just, you know, usethese everyday things without a
second thought, but sometimeswhat's hidden can be quite
revealing, especially when itcomes to our health.

Speaker 1 (00:22):
Absolutely, and today we're actually going to dive
into some fascinating newresearch.
It's uncovered something prettysurprising about that seemingly
harmless stick of gum.
It seems chewing gum releasesmicroplastics and even
nanoplastics right there in yourmouth.

Speaker 2 (00:36):
That's right.
It's from a study a reallyinteresting one, published in
the Journal of HazardousMaterials.
That was March 2025, so quiterecent.
And what's really notable isthe well, the clever methods
they use really inventive ways,to actually find these
incredibly tiny particles.

Speaker 1 (00:52):
Right, and this isn't just, you know, some abstract
science thing.
This ties directly into what wefocus on at LifeWellMDcom your
health, your wellness, yourlongevity.
We're always looking at thelatest science to understand
potential health risks, evenones that aren't obvious.

Speaker 2 (01:07):
Exactly Our team here at LifeWellMD in Florida.
We're dedicated to bringing youthe most current information
and giving you personalizedstrategies for better health and
a longer life.
So, understanding potentialexposures like this, it fits
right into our mission.

Speaker 1 (01:21):
So our plan for this deep dive is pretty simple we
want to break down this research, make it easy to grasp and give
you some practical insights foryour own well-being.

Speaker 2 (01:29):
That's good.

Speaker 1 (01:30):
Okay, so let's get started.
First off, what exactly arethese microplastics and
nanoplastics we're talking about?

Speaker 2 (01:37):
Okay, so microplastics are basically tiny
plastic fragments Think maybethe width of a hair, down to
sizes.
You definitely need amicroscope for Nanoplastics.
They're even smaller, orders ofmagnitude smaller.
Wow yeah, so tiny.
You just can't see them, whichis why they often go completely
unnoticed.

Speaker 1 (01:54):
Right, practically invisible, and this study found
these in saliva after chewinggum.

Speaker 2 (01:59):
Precisely.
That was a big finding.
After just one hour of chewingthey could actually count over
250,000 microplastic particlesin the saliva samples.

Speaker 1 (02:10):
A quarter of a million in an hour.
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (02:13):
And on top of that they also confirmed that the
even smaller nanoplastics werepresent too.
They couldn't easily countthose, but they detected their
presence.

Speaker 1 (02:20):
Wow, okay, that sounds like a lot.
Where are all these tiny bitsof plastic actually coming from?

Speaker 2 (02:26):
Well, the study points directly to the gum base.

Speaker 1 (02:29):
The gum base.

Speaker 2 (02:29):
Yeah, that's the, you know the chewy part that
doesn't dissolve when you chew.
It seems that's where theseparticles are starting from.

Speaker 1 (02:35):
Okay, so it's inherent to the gum itself.
Now, how on earth did thescientists manage to find
particles that small?
You said nanoplastics areincredibly tiny.

Speaker 2 (02:44):
It was really quite ingenious.
Actually, For the microplastics, the slightly larger ones, they
use something called automatedRiemann spectroscopy.

Speaker 1 (02:53):
Riemann spectroscopy.

Speaker 2 (02:53):
Think of it like shining a special light on the
particles.
Each material like plasticreflects that light back in a
unique way, like a fingerprint,so they could identify them as
plastic.

Speaker 1 (03:03):
Okay, that makes sense for identifying them.
But the nano-sized ones, howdid they tackle those?

Speaker 2 (03:09):
Ah, for the nanoplastics.
They needed something moresensitive.
They used a technique calledSERS, that's surface-enhanced
Riemann spectroscopy.
And the really clever partmaybe the most surprising part
was how they made the surfacesfor this SERS technique.
They used household metallicfoils like aluminum foil and

(03:29):
copper foil stuff you might havein your kitchen drawer.

Speaker 1 (03:32):
Wait, really Like regular Reynolds wrap.

Speaker 2 (03:34):
Sort of.
They developed a way to usethese really common
cost-effective materials tocreate a special surface.
This surface dramaticallyboosts the Raman signal from the
nanoplastics, making theseinvisible particles suddenly
detectable.

Speaker 1 (03:47):
That's incredible Using kitchen foil for
cutting-edge science.

Speaker 2 (03:51):
It gets better.
They refined it further usingtiny gold nanoparticles
sprinkled over a copper film andthat specific combination, the
AUMP at a Q they called it, letthem detect really small
polystyrene nanoplastics, just100 nanometers, even at very low
concentrations like onemicrogram per milliliter.

Speaker 1 (04:11):
So everyday materials plus a bit of gold, and
suddenly you can see theseminuscule plastic bits.
That is genuinely innovative.

Speaker 2 (04:18):
It really is.
And they didn't just wing it.
They used computer modeling,fem simulations, to actually
confirm why it worked so well.
Basically, these surfacescreate tiny hotspots that
amplify the signal intensely.
They checked different types ofthese hotspots to make sure
their method was super sensitive.

Speaker 1 (04:34):
Okay, I won't pretend to get all the physics, but the
takeaway is they found clever,surprisingly accessible ways to
find and measure these micro andnanoplastics.

Speaker 2 (04:42):
Exactly Robust methods confirming their
presence.

Speaker 1 (04:45):
So we know they're there.
Which brings us to the bigquestion for everyone listening
why does this matter?
What's the potential impact?

Speaker 2 (04:52):
Right the.
So what question?
Well, the study authorsthemselves called microplastics
and nanoplastics a burgeoninghealth hazard.
Now, the full long term effectsare still being studied,
definitely, but the key thinghere is the route of exposure.

Speaker 1 (05:07):
You mean because it's right in your mouth.

Speaker 2 (05:09):
Precisely.
These particles aren't justsomewhere out in the environment
.
They're being released directlyinto your oral cavity while you
chew.

Speaker 1 (05:16):
Which means you're very likely swallowing them.

Speaker 2 (05:18):
Exactly that direct ingestion pathway is what raises
the concern.

Speaker 1 (05:24):
So for people listening, especially those
trying to be proactive abouthealth, like our listeners
interested in LifeWellMD'sapproach, this is definitely
something to note.

Speaker 2 (05:33):
Yes, if you're trying to stay informed about
potential risks, even subtleones, from daily habits, this
study puts chewing gum on theradar.

Speaker 1 (05:42):
Okay, so given this new information, what can people
actually do?
What are some practicaltakeaways for our wellness?

Speaker 2 (05:48):
Well, the most direct action based on this research
is maybe to be more mindfulabout chewing gum.
Start by looking at theingredients.
See if you can find out whatthe gum base is made of.
Perhaps look for alternatives,if they exist, that use
non-plastic bases.

Speaker 1 (06:01):
That's a good point.
Maybe explore gums made withnatural trickle or other bases,
or, I suppose, just chew lessgum, or maybe none at all.

Speaker 2 (06:09):
Exactly.
Simply reducing how often youchew gum, or maybe deciding to
avoid it altogether, could be asensible, proactive step based
on these findings.
And you know, this is reallywhere understanding the science
and making informed choicescomes together, which is core to
what we do at LifeWellMDcom.

Speaker 1 (06:26):
Right.
We focus on helping you takecontrol, make those informed
choices for your long-termhealth and longevity.
Understanding these kinds ofpotential hidden risks, like
microplastics from gum, isreally part of that bigger
picture, that comprehensiveapproach we take.

Speaker 2 (06:41):
Absolutely.
At LifeWellMD, our team is hereto provide that personalized
guidance.
We help you optimize yourhealth based on the latest
science, making lifestylechoices that truly support your
goals.
It's about empowering you withthe knowledge you need.

Speaker 1 (06:55):
So if you're serious about your health, about living
vibrantly for longer and aboutnavigating potential risks like
this one, we really encourageyou to connect with us.
You can call LifeWellIndeedtoday.
The number is 561-210-9999.
Start that conversation aboutyour personal wellness journey.

Speaker 2 (07:11):
Yeah, we're here to help you create a tailored plan.
So just to quickly recap themain points, Good idea.
This recent study, using somereally innovative and
cost-effective science, showedpretty clearly that chewing gum
can release a large number ofmicroplastics Over a quarter
million in an hour were countedand nanoplastics are present too
.

Speaker 1 (07:32):
And these particles are released right into your
mouth, increasing the likelihoodof ingestion.
The researchers themselvesflagged this as a potential
health concern, a burgeoninghealth hazard.

Speaker 2 (07:41):
Right, which leads us to maybe a final thought for
you, the listener, to considerKnowing that something as common
as everyday as chewing gumcould be introducing these tiny
particles into your body, whatother seemingly harmless habits
might have unseen consequencesfor your long-term health and
well-being?

Speaker 1 (07:58):
That's definitely something worth pondering.
It makes you think, doesn't it?
And if you want to exploreproactive health strategies
further, learn how to make thoseinformed choices for a
healthier future, please visitour website at LifeWellMDcom or
just give us a call directly at561-210-9999.

Speaker 2 (08:15):
We look forward to helping you on your path to
optimal wellness.