My A/P Paper
Not Just a Bad Habit
For many years people have partaken in the habit of chewing gum, but for as long as gum has been around, it has been looked down upon and even considered unsophisticated. Billions of dollars are spent each year on what most people believe to be a nasty habit. The mess gum makes and the clean up of gum when not disposed properly is what gives this latex based substance a bad name. Many deem gum as being unhealthy for teeth and just an all around nuisance. Although chewing gum is unsophisticated and banned from certain public places, there are many benefits to chewing gum besides blowing bubbles.
Chewing gum can be very beneficial to our health. Many gums have been produced to help in several different ways. There are gums that help with bad breath, help people quit smoking, help parents give children vitamins, sooth ulcers, and even give vaccines. Gum is widely known as candy, but more adults have begun to partake in the habit of chewing gum. With many flavors and many different uses gum has become very popular in society.
But in some places the chewing of gum is not allowed or against the law. According to Chemist & Druggist, Singapore has banned gum from being sold in public places; but, gum can be purchased from a dentist. The biggest reason behind banning gum from public is the mess it makes when the gum is not disposed of properly, and the trouble it causes for the ones who have to clean it up (“The Perils” 38). Many teachers in the U.S have also banned chewing gum in their classrooms, because of not being properly disposed of.
Gum is very helpful for teeth; the saliva that is caused from chewing gum helps clean the plaque and gunk off teeth caused from food. Many gums contain sugar, and most people seem to think they are unhealthy and can cause cavities. But all gums contain some sort of sugar, even if the package does say sugar free. According to a study done at the University of Illinois, Big Red a gum that most people usually do not chew because of the oil in it called Cinnamic Aldehyde, is one of the few gums that actually kill half of the halitosis, which is the bad breath bacteria. Cinnamic Aldehyde is what gives the Big Red gum the hot flavor (Prevention 39). Chewing gum in between brushing helps keep teeth more clean and the mouth refreshed.
Vitaball and Nicorette are two gums that are medicinal gums. The Vitaball when chewed releases the necessary vitamins to the child or adult who takes them. Vitaball is mostly for children because there is a difficulty when giving children medicine. Nicorette another type of medicinal gum, is used by people to help them quit smoking. Nicorette contains a nicotine substance that makes the user not smoke. The nicotine in the gum is released and helps them to slowly limit the amount they smoke, until they completely stop.
Gum also helps with other problems one might have as well. While taking off or landing in an airplane, chewing a piece of gum during the time will prevent the ear drums from popping. According to The Economist “Finnish scientists found that children chewing Xylitol and Sorbitol gum suffered 40% fewer ear infections than non-chewers” (“Business bubbles; Medical confectionery”). Chewing gum causes the blood circulation in the head to flow and can ease the tension of a headache. Gum also helps with curbing the appetite so there is no snacking through out the day in between meals. Gum can be a good way to help with a diet and exercise plan. Chewing a piece of gum for one hour per day burns twelve calories. There is one myth about gum and that myth is if gum is swallowed it takes seven years to digest. Wrong, gum does pass through the body, but does not break down the same way as food does.
The other main benefit to chewing gum is that it helps with concentration and long term memory. There have been many studies produced in colleges and even public schools as well. Many teachers are allowing students to chew gum in classes and during tests. In high school the teachers are not as strict to gum chewing as the lower grades. A study done at the University of Northumbria proved that people who chew gum where able to remember thirty five percent more then the ones who did not chew gum(Chevat). In the study there where three groups they where given a list of words, numbers, and pictures to memorize. One group chewed gum, one did not, and the third group pretended to chew gum (24).
Gum is being produced to help with many different health issues. There are gums that help give vaccines/ medicines, vitamins, help whiten and clean teeth, and just all around pleasure to the person chewing. Even though gum has been given a bad name and is considered to be very unsophisticated, more adults are giving the bad named latex substance a chew. Whether people see gum as unhealthy and a problem, many more chew gum and are proud to show it off by blowing bubbles. Gum can be annoying because of the way a person chews or the way the person chooses to dispose of it. Next time when offered a piece of gum take it, the person is just being friendly, or they just might be insinuating a bad breath problem. Which ever reason it may be, there is no way gum can be harmful.
Work Cited
“Bad Breath, Meet Big Red.” Prevention 56 (2004) 39.
“Business Bubbles; Medical Confectionary.” The Econimist (2002).
Chevat, Richie. “Liscence to Chew: You Call it Bubble Gum. Some Say its Food for Thought.” Current Health 2, a Weekly Reader Publication 31 (2004) 24-28.
“The Perils of Selling Chewing Gum in Singapore.” Chemist & Druggist (2004) 38.
For many years people have partaken in the habit of chewing gum, but for as long as gum has been around, it has been looked down upon and even considered unsophisticated. Billions of dollars are spent each year on what most people believe to be a nasty habit. The mess gum makes and the clean up of gum when not disposed properly is what gives this latex based substance a bad name. Many deem gum as being unhealthy for teeth and just an all around nuisance. Although chewing gum is unsophisticated and banned from certain public places, there are many benefits to chewing gum besides blowing bubbles.
Chewing gum can be very beneficial to our health. Many gums have been produced to help in several different ways. There are gums that help with bad breath, help people quit smoking, help parents give children vitamins, sooth ulcers, and even give vaccines. Gum is widely known as candy, but more adults have begun to partake in the habit of chewing gum. With many flavors and many different uses gum has become very popular in society.
But in some places the chewing of gum is not allowed or against the law. According to Chemist & Druggist, Singapore has banned gum from being sold in public places; but, gum can be purchased from a dentist. The biggest reason behind banning gum from public is the mess it makes when the gum is not disposed of properly, and the trouble it causes for the ones who have to clean it up (“The Perils” 38). Many teachers in the U.S have also banned chewing gum in their classrooms, because of not being properly disposed of.
Gum is very helpful for teeth; the saliva that is caused from chewing gum helps clean the plaque and gunk off teeth caused from food. Many gums contain sugar, and most people seem to think they are unhealthy and can cause cavities. But all gums contain some sort of sugar, even if the package does say sugar free. According to a study done at the University of Illinois, Big Red a gum that most people usually do not chew because of the oil in it called Cinnamic Aldehyde, is one of the few gums that actually kill half of the halitosis, which is the bad breath bacteria. Cinnamic Aldehyde is what gives the Big Red gum the hot flavor (Prevention 39). Chewing gum in between brushing helps keep teeth more clean and the mouth refreshed.
Vitaball and Nicorette are two gums that are medicinal gums. The Vitaball when chewed releases the necessary vitamins to the child or adult who takes them. Vitaball is mostly for children because there is a difficulty when giving children medicine. Nicorette another type of medicinal gum, is used by people to help them quit smoking. Nicorette contains a nicotine substance that makes the user not smoke. The nicotine in the gum is released and helps them to slowly limit the amount they smoke, until they completely stop.
Gum also helps with other problems one might have as well. While taking off or landing in an airplane, chewing a piece of gum during the time will prevent the ear drums from popping. According to The Economist “Finnish scientists found that children chewing Xylitol and Sorbitol gum suffered 40% fewer ear infections than non-chewers” (“Business bubbles; Medical confectionery”). Chewing gum causes the blood circulation in the head to flow and can ease the tension of a headache. Gum also helps with curbing the appetite so there is no snacking through out the day in between meals. Gum can be a good way to help with a diet and exercise plan. Chewing a piece of gum for one hour per day burns twelve calories. There is one myth about gum and that myth is if gum is swallowed it takes seven years to digest. Wrong, gum does pass through the body, but does not break down the same way as food does.
The other main benefit to chewing gum is that it helps with concentration and long term memory. There have been many studies produced in colleges and even public schools as well. Many teachers are allowing students to chew gum in classes and during tests. In high school the teachers are not as strict to gum chewing as the lower grades. A study done at the University of Northumbria proved that people who chew gum where able to remember thirty five percent more then the ones who did not chew gum(Chevat). In the study there where three groups they where given a list of words, numbers, and pictures to memorize. One group chewed gum, one did not, and the third group pretended to chew gum (24).
Gum is being produced to help with many different health issues. There are gums that help give vaccines/ medicines, vitamins, help whiten and clean teeth, and just all around pleasure to the person chewing. Even though gum has been given a bad name and is considered to be very unsophisticated, more adults are giving the bad named latex substance a chew. Whether people see gum as unhealthy and a problem, many more chew gum and are proud to show it off by blowing bubbles. Gum can be annoying because of the way a person chews or the way the person chooses to dispose of it. Next time when offered a piece of gum take it, the person is just being friendly, or they just might be insinuating a bad breath problem. Which ever reason it may be, there is no way gum can be harmful.
Work Cited
“Bad Breath, Meet Big Red.” Prevention 56 (2004) 39.
“Business Bubbles; Medical Confectionary.” The Econimist (2002).
Chevat, Richie. “Liscence to Chew: You Call it Bubble Gum. Some Say its Food for Thought.” Current Health 2, a Weekly Reader Publication 31 (2004) 24-28.
“The Perils of Selling Chewing Gum in Singapore.” Chemist & Druggist (2004) 38.