Health experts are sounding the alarm over the potentially harmful effects of chewing gum, from debilitating headaches to severe stomach problems.
More than 150 million Americans consume gum each year, and it is estimated that each consumer chews around 300 pieces a year.
The popular substance is made out of a blend of a gum base, sweeteners, softeners, flavorings and colorings, which has made doctors and dietitians concerned about their long-term consequences
One ingredient raising red flags is sorbitol, a sugar substitute widely used in many ‘sugar-free’ chewing gums.
Another is food dye. Most commercial chewing gums in the US use synthetic dyes, such as Red dye 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1 and Titanium dioxide (used to make gum appear white).
These have been linked to an array of issues including potential DNA damage, immunity effects and cancer risks.
Meanwhile, chewing gum also contains the preservatives butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and citric acid, as well as the emulsifiers soy lecithin, glycerol esters of rosin, monoglycerides and diglycerides, which all work to keep the gum fresh, soft and stable.
One landmark study, published in 2008, warned how sorbitol can cause serious gastrointestinal problems after two patients were hospitalized in Germany with chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain and considerable weight loss.
Samantha Jenkins, 19, died in June 2011 after complaining about an upset stomach. An autopsy revealed ‘four or five bright green lumps’ of chewing gum in her stomach, and a coroner ruled it could have played a part in her premature death
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Writing in the British Medical Journal, the doctors from Berlin said the patients, a man and a woman, had consumed about 15 to 20 sticks of chewing gum a day. When they kicked the habit, both regained normal bowel function.
Sorbitol, also known as E420, is poorly absorbed by the small intestine and is known to have laxative properties.
But, at the time, Dr Juergen Bauditz and his colleagues at the University of Berlin said many consumers might fail to link sorbitol or their chewing-gum habit with their stomach issues.
Dr Briana Gelfand, a clinical nutritionist at Mount Sinai Diabetes Center in New York, told the Daily Mail she is not an advocate of chewing gum for this reason.
‘The act of chewing causes your body to anticipate food, prompting the release of digestive enzymes and stomach acid,’ she said. ‘With no actual food or nutrients to digest, the excess acid can irritate the stomach lining and worsen issues like acid reflux.’
Gelfand warned that severe or untreated acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), can cause lasting damage beyond the occasional bout of heartburn.
When stomach acid repeatedly flows back into the esophagus, it can lead to inflammation and ulcers – a condition known as esophagitis.
Over time, this damage may trigger scarring and narrowing of the esophagus – called an esophageal stricture – which can make swallowing painful or difficult.
Another serious potential outcome is called Barrett’s esophagus. This is a condition in which chronic stomach acid exposure causes precancerous tissue changes in the esophageal lining, increasing the risk of developing esophageal cancer.
Experts also note that the effects of GERD can extend beyond the digestive system.
Persistent acid exposure can cause chronic cough, asthma-like symptoms such as trouble breathing, and lung irritation when stomach acid enters the respiratory tract. Additionally, tooth enamel erosion is common due to frequent acid contact in the mouth.
On top of this, Gelfand said that chewing gum can cause you to swallow extra air, a process called aerophagia.
When you chew gum, you naturally swallow more frequently, and each swallow can introduce small amounts of air into your stomach.
This buildup of air can lead to bloating or abdominal pressure, belching and increased stomach distension, which can push acid upward and worsen GERD symptoms.
When it comes to coloring, there are a number of hazards hiding in those hues.
Consumer watchdog, the Environmental Working Group, revealed how a 2021 study by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment found that dyes used in gum can make children vulnerable to behavioral difficulties, including decreased attention.
Meanwhile, the EU banned titanium dioxide after European food safety scientists determined the whitener can no longer be considered safe for human consumption.
A 2021 study by the European Food Safety Authority concluded nanoparticles of the substance can build up in the body and may cause cancer, developmental disorders, infertility or birth defects if reproductive cells are affected.
Despite these concerns, titanium dioxide remains legal for use in food in the US.
Oliver Wood, 12, (pictured) from the UK was hospitalized earlier this year with chest pains, shakiness and jitters after consuming more than 50 pieces of caffeine gum in 24 hours
Similarly, some studies suggest that long-term or high exposure to substances like BHT may cause cell damage or hormonal effects in animals, though evidence in humans remains limited.
Caffeine, found in some gums, can also cause more obvious health harms.
This year, 12-year-old Oliver Wood from the UK was rushed to the hospital with chest pains, shakiness and jitters after consuming more than 50 pieces of caffeine gum in 24 hours.
This added up to 2,000mg of caffeine, the equivalent of 20 coffees or 25 cans of red bull. It is also five times the FDA’s recommended safety limit.
Previous studies have linked gum chewing to headaches.
A 2014 study by Tel Aviv University made the connection studying a group of 30 young people – aged six to 19 – with chronic headaches who chewed gum ‘excessively.’
When the participants stopped chewing gum for a month, 26 of them reported significant improvement, 19 of which said their headaches resolved completely.
When the same 26 participants resumed chewing gum for two weeks, their symptoms returned, suggesting a strong correlation.
Researchers believe it is because chewing gum causes excess strain on the temporomandibular joint. The muscle tension and nerve irritation from this can cause headaches.
New York-based personal trainer Natalie Alex told the Daily Mail that she believes chewing gum can also cause the body to produce more stress hormones, and there is evidence to suggest she is right.
Researchers at Coventry University in the UK gave 40 participants a stress test either with or without chewing gum.
After the test, cortisol was 49 percent higher in a gum-chewing group compared to those who were not chewing gum. And after the recovery period, cortisol was 59 percent higher in the gum group.
Today, the global chewing gum market is valued in the billions of dollars, with a projected value of $27billion by 2031 (Stock image)
Cortisol is a stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands. It helps regulate metabolism, blood sugar, blood pressure and the body’s stress response.
When cortisol levels stay too high for too long, it can cause weight gain, high blood pressure, muscle weakness, mood changes and sleep problems. Chronically high cortisol is known as Cushing’s syndrome.
In the digestive system, excess cortisol can slow digestion, increase stomach acid and irritate the gut lining, leading to issues such as acid reflux, ulcers, bloating or irritable bowel symptoms.
If cortisol levels remain extremely high and untreated, it can become dangerous – increasing the risk of heart disease, severe infections and, in rare cases, life-threatening complications.
Separate from cortisol production, Alex said the act of chewing in itself can stress you out.
‘Constantly chewing can overstimulate nerves that keep your body in a slightly stressed state, which isn’t great for digestion either,’ she said.
‘In general gum once in a while is fine, but doing it frequently or on an empty stomach can definitely throw off your digestive balance.’