Chewing Gum

Sometimes I go down a rabbit hole on something extremely unimportant, and honestly it’s a nice break from the news cycle and keeping an eye on my 401k. Today’s topic: chewing gum. Specifically, my industrial‑sized stash of Trident Spearmint.

I chew gum. A lot. As soon as I finish breakfast, I need my Trident to erase the coffee breath. Then as soon as that piece loses its flavor, I reach for another. And another. Then lunch happens, and suddenly I’m battling onion breath. If I’m doing an intermittent‑fasting day it's nonstop.

So… is this OK? Should I cut back?

I started digging into the research and, happily, found mostly good news. Sugar‑free gum actually has some legit benefits — especially for oral health. Studies show it can reduce cavities, inhibit Streptococcus mutans (the overachieving little bacteria responsible for a lot of tooth decay), stimulate saliva, and reduce plaque. The ADA even recommends chewing sugar‑free gum for 20 minutes after meals. They are VERY clear that this does not replace brushing and flossing, as if people everywhere are tossing their toothbrushes because they discovered Trident. Why is the ADA so scoldy?

One interesting thing I learned: gums sweetened with xylitol tend to perform better in studies than those sweetened with sorbitol. Naturally, my beloved Trident uses sorbitol. I could switch brands, but I just bought a warehouse‑sized crate, so Trident it is. And honestly, sorbitol isn’t bad — xylitol performs slightly better when it comes to reducing that one bacteria.

So that’s the good stuff. What about the downsides? And what about all that artificial sweetener I’m chewing all day?

Here’s what the research says:

Jaw issues

Jaw pain, irritation, headaches — all possible from constant chewing. I’ve never had this problem personally, so I’m not losing sleep over it.

Digestive issues

Sugar alcohols (like sorbitol) can cause bloating, gas, and diarrhea. I may have experienced… let’s call it “mild turbulence.” Only on days when I’m really going hard on the gum, though.

Microbiome mysteries

Artificial sweeteners may affect the gut microbiome. Hard to feel this in real time, but it’s something I think about. I couldn't find any research on this specifically.

Bigger‑picture risks

Some studies raise questions about cardiovascular or carcinogenic effects of certain artificial sweeteners. The quantities in gum are tiny, so this feels like a risk level I’m comfortable with.

After reading all this, I think I’ll tweak my habits a bit. I’ll definitely keep my post‑breakfast and post‑lunch gum — those are non‑negotiable — but I’m going to try sticking to one or two pieces at a time. And maybe cool it on the “chain chewing” marathons I sometimes fall into. If this is my biggest problem today, I’m calling it a win.