Risks Associated with Chewing Gum
Chewing gum occasionally doesn’t pose any side effects. However, too much of it can have some potential side effects. Excessive chewing of gum can overwork and strain your facial muscles, leading to pain, tightness, and headaches. Some other more severe side effect includes jaw popping, jaw clicking and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) injury [2]. You shouldn’t chew gum with sucrose, this can cause enamel demineralization and cavities, especially if you chew it frequently and for long durations. The type of gum you chew also matters.
Chewing gums that contain acid for flavoring may lower your plaque PH levels, which can result to cavity lesions, enamel erosion [3] and enamel demineralization [4].
Also, chewing gums that are full of chocolate, candies, or just too much sugar can get stuck in-between the teeth. This can be harmful to the teeth especially if they stay for long. Endeavor to brush your teeth after chewing these types of gums to avoid side effects like tooth decay.