chewing - Wrigley.com

Your guide
to the benefits of
chewing
The Benefits of Chewing Gum
more than just fresh breath?
Welcome to the Wrigley Expert Report on the benefits of chewing
gum. People chew gum for all sorts of reasons, including fresher
breath, great taste, and to keep their mouth feeling clean.
But increasingly, health professionals and consumers are finding
other benefits of chewing gum. Here are some additional benefits
which you may not be aware of:
Oral Hygiene
• Reduce the risk of tooth decay,
strengthen teeth, reduce plaque.
After meals, you can’t always use a
toothbrush. Chewing gum stimulates
the production of saliva, helping to
neutralize plaque acids that may
lead to tooth decay. The use of
sugar-free chewing gum also has
been shown to strengthen teeth and
reduce development of plaque.
Contents
P4 Top Gum Facts
P6 Oral Health
P10Alertness &
Concentration
P12 Stress & Tension
P14Weight Management
P16 Other Benefits
P18 Wrigley’s Gum Brands
P19About Wrigley UK
The Wrigley Science
Institute
2 benefits of chewing
• Relieve a dry mouth and freshen
your breath. Chewing gum moistens
and refreshes the mouth and
sweetens the breath. It helps relieve
e dry mouth symptoms that can
occur for many reasons as a side
effect from hundreds of prescribed
medications.
Alertness and Concentration
• Increase your focus, concentration
and alertness. Studies show chewing
gum boosts blood flow to the brain
by about 25 to 40 percent. Recently,
there have been reports of school
officials in the US giving students
chewing gum as they believe
the act of chewing may increase
alertness, helping their students
avoid “zone-outs” during tasks such
as studying and test taking.
Stress
• Ease your tension. Research
has found chewing gum
stimulates certain areas of
the brain (as measured by an
electroencephalograph). While
stress is a fact of life, for life’s little
tensions, such as commuting,
travelling or preparing for an
interview, chewing gum may offer
some relief. One hypothesis is the
act of chewing may help release
nervous energy.
Weight Management
• Manage your calorie intake.
Chewing gum can help cut out
some calories and curb cravings for
high-calorie snacks. An initial study,
by Dr. Marion Hetherington, found
chewing gum before snacking
can help reduce hunger, diminish
cravings for sweets, and decrease
snack intake by 36 calories. In a
follow-up study with restrained
eaters, individuals who restrict their
food intake in order to lose weight
or maintain a healthy weight, similar
results were reported. More work
is underway to explore the role of
chewing gum in appetite control
and weight control.
Chewing gum while cooking to avoid
nibbling can help people avoid the
“stealth” calories.
This report provides a brief overview
on these benefits and some
additional reading should you want
to go deeper.
I hope you find the Benefits of
Chewing Expert Report helpful.
Yours truly,
Gilbert Leveille, Ph.D
Executive Director
Wrigley Science Institute
Other benefits
• Provide ear popping relief.
Chewing gum has long been
associated with reducing ear
discomfort at high altitudes,
especially when flying, because
it stimulates the production
of saliva. That leads to more
swallowing which helps equalize
the changes in pressure by
activating the muscle that opens
the tube connecting the back of
the nose with the ear.
• Smoking cessation. Just chewing
normal sugar free gum may aid
those smokers trying to give up by
helping to break the habit and
preventing relapses.
• Acid Reflux. Chewing gum for up
to an hour after eating can help
relieve acid reflux as chewing gum
stimulates saliva and this helps
neutralize acid.
benefits of chewing 3
When did people
start chewing gum?
An ancient pleasure
Top Gum Facts
• Top gum facts
• Dispelling popular Gum Myths
• When did people start
chewing gum?
• How did Wrigley’s start?
Top facts
• Britons chewed their way through
a massive £292.6 million worth
of chewing gum in 2007, an
increase of some 28.9 percent on
2001 figures*
Dispelling Popular Gum Myths
• MYTH - If you swallow chewing gum,
it takes seven years to digest.
• TRUTH - It passes through the
digestive system in a few days.
Chewing gum is composed of five
basic ingredients, four of which
dissolve in your mouth – flavour,
sweeteners, syrups and softeners.
If you swallow the remaining gum
base, it passes like roughage.
• MYTH - Chewing gum can make
you hungry because it stimulates
your salivary glands.
• TRUTH - The stimulation of saliva from
chewing gum has not been shown
to increase hunger. In fact, recent
studies indicate chewing gum
before snacking can help reduce
hunger, diminish cravings, and
decrease snack intake.
• MYTH - Chewing gum is bad for your
teeth.
• TRUTH - Chewing sugarfree gum
can actually help your teeth.
Chewing sugarfree gum especially
after eating stimulates saliva to
4 benefits of chewing
neutralize plaque acids that harm
teeth. It helps to strengthen teeth
and helps to reduce cavities.
*According to ACNielsen Scantrack
2007 YTD w.e. 29.12.07 value sales
People have enjoyed chewing gumlike substances from very early times
and in many lands. These included
thickened resin and the milky juice
(latex) from certain kinds of trees.
Others were various sweet grasses,
leaves, grains, and waxes.
For centuries, the ancient Greeks
chewed mastic gum (or mastiche,
pronounced “mas-tee-ka”). This is
the resin obtained from the bark
of the mastic tree, a shrub-like tree
found mainly in Greece and Turkey.
Grecian women, especially, favoured
chewing mastic gum to clean their
teeth and sweeten their breath.
Native American treat
From the Native Americans of New
England, the early colonists learned
to chew the gum-like resin that
formed on spruce trees when the
bark was cut. Lumps of spruce gum
were sold in the eastern United States
during the early 1800s, making it the
first commercial chewing gum in this
country. In about 1850, sweetened
paraffin wax became popular and
eventually exceeded spruce gum in
popularity.
Chicle, the modern gum
Modern chewing gum began in the
late 1860s when chicle was brought
to the United States and tried as a
chewing gum ingredient.
Chicle comes from the latex of
the sapodilla tree, which grows in
the tropical rain forests of Central
America. This tree is found mainly in
those parts of Mexico, Guatemala
and Belize that lie within the Yucatan
Peninsula.
Gum made with chicle and
similar latexes soon won favour over
spruce gum and paraffin gum. It
made possible a smooth, springy,
satisfying chew that the others
lacked, and it held flavours
longer and better.
By the early 1900s, with improved
methods of manufacturing,
packaging, and marketing, modern
chewing gum was well on its way to
its current popularity.
How did Wrigley’s start?
William Wrigley Jr. came to Chicago
from Philadelphia in the spring of 1891.
He was 29 years old, had $32 in his
pocket and was a talented salesman.
His father was a soap manufacturer,
and at the start of his new business
in Chicago, Mr. Wrigley sold Wrigley’s
Scouring Soap. As an extra incentive
to merchants, Mr. Wrigley offered
premiums. He knew his customers
would be more likely to carry
Wrigley’s soap if they received a little
“something for nothing.” One of these
premiums was baking powder. When
baking powder proved to be more
popular than soap, he switched to the
baking powder business.
Then one day in 1892, Mr. Wrigley
got the idea of offering two packages
of chewing gum with each can of
baking powder. The offer was a big
success.
Once again the premium chewing gum - seemed more
promising than the product it was
supposed to promote. At that time,
there were at least a dozen chewing
gum companies in the United
States, but the industry was relatively
undeveloped.
Mr. Wrigley decided that chewing
gum was the product with the
potential he had been looking for, so
he began marketing it under his own
name. His first two brands were Lotta
and Vassar. Juicy Fruit gum came next
in 1893, and Wrigley’s Spearmint was
introduced later that same year.
In the very early days, William
Wrigley Jr. personally did much of the
selling to the trade.
He had a gift for seeing his
customers’ point of view and
accommodating himself to their
needs. As the company grew, Mr.
Wrigley showed an unusual knack
for inspiring enthusiasm in the people
who worked with him. Mr. Wrigley was
also one of the pioneers in the use
of advertising to promote the sale of
branded merchandise. He saw that
consumer acceptance of Wrigley’s
gum could be built faster by telling
people about the benefits of the
product through newspaper and
magazine ads, outdoor posters and
other forms of advertising.
Then, as more and more consumers
began to ask for and buy Wrigley’s
chewing gum in the stores, the
storekeeper would naturally want
to keep a sufficient stock of Wrigley
brands on hand.
As the company continued to
grow, it steadfastly applied this basic
principle: “Even in a little thing like a
stick of gum, quality is important.”
If you’d like to learn more, or want
to discuss the additional benefits of
chewing gum, please don’t hesitate
to contact:
Alex MacHutchon
Wrigley 0118 9317042
[email protected]
GolinHarris
0207 067 0600
[email protected]
benefits of chewing 5
Chewing gum, especially
after meals, has clinically
proven oral care benefits.
There is overwhelming published
scientific evidence from laboratory
studies and clinical trials showing that
chewing sugarfree gum has many
beneficial qualities.
Today, the benefits of all sugarfree
chewing gum, and Wrigley’s Orbit
Complete specifically, are recognized
by the British Dental Association (BDA
- www.bda.org), the British Dental
Health Foundation (BDHF - www.
dentalhealth.org.uk), the British Dental
Hygienists’ Association (BDHA - www.
bdha.org.uk) and the World Dental
Federation (WDF - www.fdiworldental.
org), based on its contribution to
good oral healthcare. In addition,
in the UK, Wrigley’s Orbit Complete
sugarfree chewing gum has received
Accreditation from the British Dental
Health Foundation which agrees that
Wrigley’s Orbit Complete sugarfree
chewing gum helps reduce plaque.
Reducing the risk of tooth decay
Oral
Health
Chewing gum can help improve
oral health – fighting tooth
decay and freshening breath
6 benefits of chewing
Tooth decay occurs when essential
minerals are dissolved from the tooth
enamel by acids produced by the
bacteria in plaque. Teeth are at their
most vulnerable directly after meals
and snacks when plaque acid levels
rise dramatically. It can take up to
two hours for these acids to be either
flushed away or neutralised, during
which time teeth are vulnerable to
these plaque acids.
However, it is not always
convenient to use a toothbrush after
every meal and snack; chewing
sugarfree gum can remove these
acids within minutes, thus slowing
down the process of tooth decay.
This is because chewing is a natural
mechanism for ridding the mouth
of plaque acids. It stimulates saliva
production by up to ten-fold and
increases oral pH (makes the mouth
environment less acidic) which is a
“Increasing numbers of dental
professionals recommend
Wrigley’s Orbit Complete
sugarfree gum as part of an
oral care routine to aid dental
hygiene and help prevent
tooth decay.”
key to maintaining and improving oral
health.
Saliva has three main protective
functions:
functional increase in resting salivary
flow rate and pH, and a smaller
plaque acid response to sucrose
consumption.
1. It dilutes and flushes out food
debris, dietary carbohydrates and
sugars.
2. It contains a mild alkali (hydrogen
carbonate) which neutralises acids
in the mouth.
3. It contains minerals such as
calcium, phosphate and fluoride
– all components of tooth enamel
which can help repair early decay
and strengthen teeth.
The role of saliva in tooth decay
and gum disease
A healthy mouth depends on the
balance between demineralisation
– when the tooth’s mineral content is
dissolved away - and remineralisation
– reformation of tooth mineral. If these
systems are disrupted, it can have a
detrimental effect on oral heath.
A healthy adult produces around
500 ml of saliva per day, which can
be stimulated by any food or drink.
However the most effective way of
stimulating saliva is by chewing
sugarfree gum. Research
has proven that when
sugarfree gum, such as Orbit
Complete, is chewed by
healthy people, the flow
of saliva increases from a
resting value of 0.4-0.5ml/
minute to approximately
5-6ml/minute, increasing
the production of saliva
by up to 10 times the
normal rate in the
first few minutes
of chewing. This
increased chewing
effort, through
frequent consumption
of sugarfree chewing
gum over a prolonged
time period, results in a
benefits of chewing 7
Tooth decay (dental caries) occurs
when so much of the tooth’s essential
minerals have been dissolved away
that first a lesion and then a hole has
formed. It is caused by the presence
of acids which are produced by
specific types of bacteria on the
tooth’s surface. These bacteria form
organised colonies referred to as
dental plaque. This plaque not only
provides a home for oral bacteria but
acts as a medium holding the acid
they produce against the tooth’s
surface.
Gum disease is the inflammation
and destruction of the tissue
supporting the teeth. One of the
main causes is the build-up of mature
plaque deposits around the teeth.
A key factor in the development
of decay lies in the correct balance
of acid demineralisation and
remineralisation of the teeth which
is in turn dependent on the pH of
dental plaque. Caries occur when
there is an imbalance between the
demineralisation of the enamel
surface following acid generation
in the plaque and remineralisation
produced by the return of mineral
ions into enamel from the plaque and
saliva.
Studies have shown that salivary
stimulation of chewing sugarfree
gum after the consumption of
carbohydrate and sugar-containing
“A key ingredient of Wrigley’s sugarfree gum is the
presence of several types of polyols, mainly sorbitol
and xylitol. Research shows that xylitol prevents harmful
bacteria from growing. It also reduces plaque as it can
help prevent harmful plaque from building up on teeth.”
foods not only prevents the fall in
plaque pH, but also results in an
increased remineralising effect as it
increases the number of remineralising
ions present in the mouth.
The raising of the pH, as saliva
stimulated by sugarfree chewing
gum does, can lead to a decrease
in the incidence of caries. The most
solid scientific evidence for the
caries reduction effect comes from
long-term clinical trials where actual
Dental Caries
Imbalance between acid demineralisation
of teeth and remineralisation of caries lesions
Acid demineralisation:
Remineralisation:
• The pH of dental plaque falls
each time acids accumulate
in the plaque due to bacterial
acid production following the
consumption of fermentable
carbohydrates and rises when
acids are washed away and
neutralized by saliva, which
contains the important buffering
component, bicarbonate
• Remineralisation is the process by
which calcium and phosphate
ions, found in saliva, start to repair
the damaged mineral crystals in
the enamel of the teeth.
• The concentrations of ions, which
make up the lattice structure of
hydroxyapatite (Ca2+, PO43-, OH)
are higher in “stimulated” saliva
than in “unstimulated” saliva.
• Stimulated saliva is a more
effective medium for
remineralising enamel crystals
damaged by initial caries attack.
8 benefits of chewing
cavities were measured in the real
world environment in groups that
chewed sugarfree gum similar to
Wrigley’s sugarfree chewing gum.
These studies were conducted in
different countries and populations
with the same results of reducing
cavities whenever sugarfree gum was
chewed after eating.
The findings published by Szoke,
Banoczy and Proskin (2001) showed
a reduction of nearly 40% in dental
caries in a Hungarian population of
school children who chewed gum for
20 minutes after meals (see chart).
As depicted above, chewing
sugarfree gum has been associated
with a reduction in the quantity and
development of plaque, and a
reduction in the acid-forming ability of
plaque.
Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)
Xerostomia is the medical term for
a dry mouth due to a lack of saliva, a
problem which affects over 10 million
people in the UK.
It can lead to bad breath, a
dramatic rise in the number of cavities
as the protective effect of saliva is no
longer present, and can make the
mouth more vulnerable to infection
and ulceration. It can also cause
difficulty in chewing and swallowing.
People get dry mouth when the
glands in the mouth that make saliva
are not working properly. It is often
a side effect of medication. For
example, more than 400 medicines
can cause the salivary glands to
make less saliva including those for
high blood pressure and depression.
Treatment for dry mouth involves
the use of both saliva substitutes and
saliva stimulants. Patients with little or
no responsive salivary gland tissue will
need saliva substitutes.
Chewing sugarfree gum can help
moisten and refresh the mouth and
sweeten the breath. Studies have
shown that chewing gum is one
of the most preferred treatments
for xerostomia. Chewing sugarfree
gum, such as Orbit Complete,
increases salivary flow in patients
with xerostomia by up to 7 times,
providing relief from the symptoms
and protection from other clinical
complications.
For further information on the
symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of
dry mouth, a comprehensive website,
Drymouth.info, was developed by
the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company.
“Increasing
numbers of
dental
professionals recommend Wrigley’s
Orbit Complete sugarfree gum as
part of an oral care routine to aid
dental hygiene and help prevent
tooth decay.”
“A key ingredient of Wrigley’s
sugarfree gum is the presence of
several types of polyols, mainly
sorbitol and xylitol. Research shows
that these compounds prevent
harmful bacteria from growing and
also can help prevent harmful plaque
from building up on teeth.”
Where to find additional information:
http://www.betteroralhealth.info/orbit/
chewing-gum-and-current-thinking.html
http://www.betteroralhealth.info/orbit/
saliva.pdf
Dawes, C; Macpherson, MD (1992): Effects
of Nine Different Chewing-Gums and
Lozenges on Salivary
Flow Rate and pH,
Caries Research,
26(3): 176-182.
Dodds, MW J; Hsieh, SC; Johnson, DA
(1991): The effect of increased mastication
by daily gum-chewing on salivary gland
output and dental plaque acidogenicity.
J Dent Res, 70: 1474-1478.
Manning, RH; Edgar, WM (1993): pH
changes in plaque after eating meals, and
their modification by chewing sugared or
sugar-free gum. Brit Dent J, 174: 241-244.
Leach, SA; Lee, GTR; Edgar, WM (1989):
Remineralisation of artificial caries-like
lesions in human enamel in situ by chewing
sorbitol gum. J Dent Res, 69: 1064-1068.
Edgar, WM; Dawes, C; O’MullaneD (2004,
third edition): Saliva and Oral Health, British
Dent. Journal Publication, London.
Beiswanger, BB; Elias, A; Mau, MS; Katz,
B; Proskin, HM; Stookey, GK (1998): The
effects of chewing sugar-free gum after
meals on clinical caries incidence. JADA,
129:1623-1626.
Szoke, J; Banoczy, J; Proskin, HM (2001):
Effect of after-meal sucrose-free gumchewing on clinical caries. J Dent Res,
80(9): 1725-1729.
Kandelman, D; Gagnon, G (1990): A
24-month clinical study of: the incidence
and progression of dental caries in
relation to consumption of chewing gum
containing xylitol in school preventive
programs, Jl Dent Res, 69(11): 1711-1775.
Söderling, E; Mäkinen, KK; Chen, C-Y;
Pape, HR; Loesche, W; Mäkinen, P-L (1989):
Effect of sorbitol, xylitol and xylitol/sorbitol
chewing gums on dental plaque. Caries
Res, 23: 378- 384.
Bjornstrom, M; Axel, T; Birkhed, D (1990):
Comparison between saliva stimulants and
saliva substitutes in patients with symptoms
related to dry mouth. A multi-centre study.
Swed Dent J, 14: 153-161.
http://www.betteroralhealth.info/uk-orbit/
tooth-staining.html
benefits of chewing 9
Alertness
and Concentration
Chewing gum stimulates
brain activity and may
help improve alertness and
concentration
Research has shown that chewing
gum can increase people’s ability to
retain and recall information.1
Anecdotally, teachers have in
some cases reversed traditional
policies against allowing children
to chew gum in class and some are
now encouraging students to chew
gum during tests as a way to increase
focus, concentration and alertness.
The act of chewing gum increases
blood flow to the brain, and some
believe this may help supply
additional oxygen to the brain.
The most authoritative research
into the positive effects of chewing
gum on concentration and recall
is reported in a joint study by the
University of Northumbria in Newcastle
and the Cognitive Research Unit in
Reading in March 2002.2
Lucy Wilkinson, Prof Andrew
Scholey and Keith Wesnes found
that chewing gum while performing
memory tests increased long and
short term memory by up to 35 per
cent.
The experiments involved the
participation of 75 adults. One third
chewed gum during 20 minutes of
memory and attention tests, one third
mimicked chewing movements, and
the remainder did not
chew.
The tests included questions
relating to short-term memory such
as words and pictures and the socalled working memory, for example
the ability to remember a telephone
number. The results showed that gum
chewers’ scores were 24 per cent
higher than the control group on tests
involving immediate word recall and
36 per cent higher on tests involving
delayed word recall.
Japanese and Chinese researchers
have shown that chewing gum
increases blood flow to the brain by
about 25 to 40 per cent.(3), (4)
Using computed tomography (CT)
and positron emission tomography
(PET)* scanning, the Japanese study
showed that brain activity in the
hippocampus increases while people
chew. When chewing was restricted
but with jaw movement still allowed,
it decreased significantly and when
people finished chewing gum the
level returned to its original
state.3
Prof Scholey, currently at the Brain Sciences
Institute in Melbourne, Australia and whose main
research focuses on treatments which enhance
mental performance, said that it was extremely
clear that chewing gum targeted memory.
“We found a very clear pattern of improved
memory when gum was chewed. People
recalled more words and performed better in
tests on working memory when they chewed
gum,” he said. “We think it is the effect of
chewing which causes this, rather than
anything in the gum itself.”
10 benefits of chewing
Two experiments conducted
examined whether chewing
spearmint gum can affect the initial
learning or subsequent recall of
a word list. Participants in the first
experiment chewed gum at both
the learning and the recall stages
while in the second experiment they
only chewed once. Results showed
that chewing gum at initial learning
was associated with superior recall
which continued if they chewed at
the recall stages. However, if they
switched and only chewed gum
once – either at the initial learning
stage or the recall stage – it led to
poorer performance.
* A computed tomography (CT)
scan uses a combination of x-rays
and computers to give the radiologist
a non-invasive way to see inside your
body. Positron Emission Tomography
(PET) is a powerful imaging technique
that holds great promise in the
diagnosis and treatment of many
diseases.
References:
1. Baker, JR; Bezance, JB; Zellaby, E;
Aggleton, JP (2004): Chewing gum can
produce context-dependent effects upon
memory. Appetite, 43(2): 207-210.
2. Wilkinson, L; Scholey, A; Wesnes, K
(2002): Chewing gum selectively improves
aspects of memory in healthy volunteers.
Appetite, 38(3) 235-236.
3. Sasaki A (2001): Influence of mastication
on the amount of hemoglobin in human
brain tissue. J Stomatological Society,
68:72-81.
4. Yue, Z; Huang, L; Zhou, X (2006):
Regional brain activities during gum
chewing. Psychological Science,
29:1153-1156. 4.
benefits of chewing 11
In 1939, research by an
American psychologist, Dr Harry
Levi Hollingworth of Columbia
University in New York, found that
chewing relaxes people while they
are working. In his study, The PsychoDynamics of Chewing, Dr Hollingworth
showed that chewing reduces
muscular tension and helps people
feel more at ease. (1)
More recently, research has shown
that chewing gum stimulates certain
areas of the brain (as measured
by electroencephalogram [EEG].
Research has shown that sensory
stimulation of taste and smell
possess properties that influence
brain function during chewing gum
- above and beyond the act of
chewing itself.(2)
In addition, scientists in Spain
discovered neurochemical evidence
in rats that suggests chewing
eases the effects of stress on the
brain. Their findings showed that
chewing weakened the release of
neurotransmitters such as dopamine
in the rat brain during a brief period
of stress.(3)
Stress is the body’s reaction to
emotional, physical, social or mental
stimulus. It occurs daily and can be
either acute, the result of a onetime event that
Stress and
Tension
Chewing gum can help provide relief during
the stresses and tensions of everyday life
12 benefits of chewing
A panel of
psychiatrists and
psychologists quoted
by historian Robert
Hendrickson in The
Great American
Gum Book suggests
three reasons why
people chew gum
(4). These are:
comes and goes rapidly, or chronic,
when one has to cope with on-going
difficult situations. Symptoms include
increased adrenaline, heart-beat,
blood pressure, and cholesterol as
well as increased muscle and nerve
tension.
The impact of stress is different
for all individuals and everyone has
their own methods of coping with
stress, with stress tolerance and stress
management varying between
individuals. For many people it is
important to learn how to handle
stress to be able to adequately
manage the ups and downs of
daily life.
An act as simple as chewing
gum can in some instances help to
alleviate some every day stressful
situations. It can offer a quick fix for
assuaging the build up of pressure on
a day to day level.
A panel of psychiatrists and
psychologists quoted by historian
Robert Hendrickson in The Great
American Gum Book 4 suggests three
reasons why people chew gum.
These are:
1. To relieve feelings of loneliness and
boredom.
2. Relief from tension by discharging
nervous energy.
3. To provide a quick, socially
acceptable outlet for anger and
irritation.
The US Armed Forces began
supplying chewing gum to its
servicemen in World War 1 in a bid
to ease tension as well as keep them
alert. It is still included in field and
combat rations today.
References:
1. Hollingworth, HL (1939): Chewing as
a technique of relaxation, Science, 90:
385-387.
2. Morinushi, T; Masumoto, Y; Kawasaki,
H; Takigawa, M (2000): Effect on
electroencephalogram (EEG) of chewing
flavoured gum. Psychiatry and Clinical
Neurosciences, 54(6) 645 - 651.
1. T o relieve feelings
of loneliness and
boredom
2. R
elief from tension
by discharging
nervous energy
3. T o provide a
quick, socially
acceptable outlet
for anger and
irritation
3. Gomez, FM; Giralt, MT; Sainz, B;
Arrue, A; Prieto, M; Garcia-Vallejo, P
(1988): A possible attenuation of
stress-induced increases in striatal
dopamine metabolism by the
expression of non-functional
masticatory activity in the rat. J
Dent Res, 77: 1454-1464.
4. The Great American
Gum Book, Hendrickson R,
Chilton Book Company
(1976).
benefits of chewing 13
Weight
Management
At 5 to 10 calories
per piece, chewing
gum can serve as an
alternative to a high
calorie snack
14 benefits of chewing
“Research suggests that chewing
gum may help curb the desire to
eat and lower energy intake from
snacks consumed after lunch.”
Chewing gum can help reduce
snacking. It is generally accepted
that people can’t eat whilst chewing
gum, and by substituting it for a highcalorie snack, chewing gum can help
reduce overall calorie intake.
For example, chewing gum while
cooking to avoid nibbling can help
people avoid the “stealth” calories
that also can undermine efforts to
control calories.
As more people become aware
of the importance of their health,
diet and wellbeing, products low
in calories like chewing gum have
grown in popularity as an alternative
to high calorie snacks.
A piece of gum is between five and
ten calories. In fact, just chewing gum
can use about 11 calories an hour.
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in
Rochester, Minnesota discovered that
chewing gum raises the metabolic
rate by about 20 per cent.(1)
Initial research from the University
of Liverpool (2) showed that
chewing gum resulted in a slight,
but measurable decline in calorie
consumption.
Dr. Hetherington and colleagues
recruited 60 healthy men and women
aged 18 to 40 to test the effects of
chewing gum on post lunch appetite
and snacking. Participants ranged
in size from a very lean body mass
index (BMI) of 17 to an obese BMI of
33. In the control conditions, the study
participants did not chew gum before
eating either a sweet or savoury
snack. In the gum conditions, they
chewed gum at three separate hourly
intervals and then ate the snacks.
The study found that chewing gum
cut the amount of calories which
would have been gained by snacking
by about 36 calories compared with
not chewing gum. The researchers
also found that afternoon hunger
ratings were significantly lower in the
chewing-gum condition compared
with the no-gum group.
In a follow-up study with restrained
eaters, similar results were reported
(3). Restrained eaters are individuals
who restrict their food intake in order
to lose weight or maintain a healthy
weight. The effect of chewing gum
was to significantly reduce snack
intake by 25 calories. Specifically
sweet snack intake was reduced by
39 calories, although salty snacks
were decreased by 11 calories. In
addition, hunger and desire to eat
were significantly suppressed by
chewing gum at one, two and three
hour intervals after lunch. Overall,
these two studies demonstrate
the potential role of chewing gum
in appetite control and weight
management.
The results suggest that chewing
gum may help curb the desire to eat
and lower energy intake from snacks
consumed after lunch. Chewing gum
could be a useful tool to suppress
appetite and reduce food intake
as part of a strategy for weight
management.
Research on energy intake and
chewing conducted by Dr. Lavin and
colleagues at Slimming World in the
UK (4) examined subjects consuming
60 calories of sucrose (table sugar)
either in solution, as jelly, or chewy
candy compared to a plain water
control prior to eating a test meal.
Results indicated that energy intake
was significantly reduced by chewy
candy (13%) compared to sucrose
in solution and by 10% compared to
water. Chewing sweets before the
test meal reduced energy intake,
while drinking a sweet solution did
not. (4) Sensory-specific satiety may
be involved in chewing sweets and
appetite control. As a food is eaten,
its pleasantness declines relative to
other foods (sensory-specific satiety).
This decrease in pleasantness is
coupled with a decline in desire to
eat that food but not to eat other
foods. When offered the same food
again, this food will be rejected, but
other foods may be accepted.
References:
1. Levine, J; Baukol, P; Pavlidis, I (1999): The
energy expended in chewing gum. N Engl
J Med, 341: 2100.
2. Hetherington, MM; Boyland E (2007):
Short-term effects of chewing gum on
snack intake and appetite. Appetite,
48(3):397-401.
3. Hetherington, MM; Regan MF (2007):
Effect of chewing gum on short-term
appetite control and reduced snack
intake in moderately restrained eaters.
Obesity, 15: 510-P.
4. Lavin, JH; French, SJ; Ruxton, CH; Read
NW (2002): An investigation of the role of
oro-sensory stimulation in sugar satiety? Int
J Obes Relat Metab Disord, 26:384-388.
benefits of chewing 15
Other
Benefits of
Chewing
Gum
How gum can help...
Ease ear popping
Chewing gum has long been
associated with reducing ear
discomfort at high altitudes,
especially when flying. The discomfort
is caused by rapid pressure changes
in the cabin as you ascend and
descent.
Normally, the pressure in the
middle ear is equal to the pressure
outside of the ear. The Eustachian
Tube, a hollow structure of bone and
cartilage that connects the middle
ear with the rear of the throat, helps
to regulate the pressure in the middle
ear and equalize air pressure on
either side of the eardrum by pulling
air in from the nasal passages.
Chewing gum increases your saliva
production which in turn increases
your swallowing. It is this chewing
action that activates the muscles
around the Eustachian tube, allowing
it to open and regulate pressure.
Relieve acid reflux
Acid reflux is a type of indigestion
which occurs when
the stomach churns up acid or
refluxes it into the oesophagus,
causing a burning sensation in the
chest or throat. It occurs after eating,
usually after a big meal or eating
too quickly, and about one third
of people experience this type of
indigestion every six months.
Chewing gum for up to an
hour after eating can help relieve
acid reflux as chewing gum
stimulates saliva and this helps
neutralise acid. (1)
Aid smoking cessation
The benefits of nicotine gum in helping
smokers give up their habit are well
known. It doubles the chances of
quitting compared with willpower
alone. But just chewing
normal sugarfree
gum can
also help prevent those trying to give
up smoking from relapsing. This is
because most smokers develop an
oral fixation and get used to having
something in their mouths. Chewing
gum can fulfil this craving and helps
avoid eating sweets or other high
calorie snacks which is one of the
reasons why some people put on
weight when they quit smoking.
References:
1. Avidan B, Sonnenberg A, Schnell TG,
Sontag SJ (2001): Walking and chewing
reduce postprandial acid reflux. Aliment
Pharmacol Ther, 15(2):151-155.
2. Cohen LM., Britt DM., Collins FL Jr., Stott
HD, Carter LC (1999): Chewing gum
affects smoking topography. Exp Clin
Psychopharmacol, 7(4):444-447.
3. Cohen LM, Collins FL Jr., Britt DM (1997)
The effect of chewing gum on tobacco
withdrawal. Addict Behav, 22(6):769-773.
“Chewing gum for up to
an hour after eating can
help relieve acid reflux as
chewing gum stimulates
saliva and this helps
neutralize acid.”
16 benefits of chewing
benefits of chewing 17
Wrigley’s gum brands
Extra
Extra sugarfree chewing gum
provides long lasting breath
freshening. Launched in the UK
in 1990, Extra Peppermint was
followed by a Spearmint variant
(1994), Cool Breeze™ (2001) and
Ice™ (2005). Wrigley’s Extra is the
No.1 sugar confectionery brand in
the UK.
About Wrigley UK
Extra Fusion
Extra Fusion sugarfree chewing gum
is available in delicious blends of tasty
fruit flavours that give you a truly fresh
taste experience. Launched in August
2007, Extra Fusion Raspberry Blackcurrant
Grapefruit flavour and Orange Pineapple
Banana flavour are exciting additions to
the Wrigley gum range.
The Wrigley Company has a long
and proud UK history. Wrigley’s
Spearmint gum was first launched in
the UK in 1911 and by 1925 business
had reached such a level that it was
decided to build a Wrigley factory in
the UK itself. The first factory was built
in Wembley, North London with work
starting in 1926 and opening in 1927.
In 1970 the company relocated
the factory and UK head office
to Plymouth in the South West of
England where over 600 people are
now employed. The move gave
Wrigley employees a quality of
life not generally associated with
manufacturing, and the opportunity
to build a state of the art factory.
Parts of the grounds have even been
transformed into a wildlife habitat.
The factory’s constant investment
in the latest technologies ensures
the business’ continuing ability to
innovate and maintain its place
on the world stage as a globally
competitive facility.
But the factory in Plymouth is
not just an important centre of
manufacturing for The Wrigley
Company in the UK. With around
25% of chewing gum produced in
Plymouth exported overseas, the UK
factory plays a key role in Wrigley’s
business development across Europe.
Airwaves
Airwaves® sugarfree gum delivers a menthol hit for an
invigorating kick. Launched in 1997, Airwaves Menthol
& Eucalyptus was a huge success with consumers.
The current range also includes Cherry Menthol
(2003) and Black Mint (2006).
Orbit
Orbit was originally launched in 1977 and in 2007 was re-launched
as new Orbit Complete – a new sugarfree gum which contains
Xylitol which is proven to reduce the build up of plaque.
Orbit Complete delivers 3 key consumer benefits; convenience,
dental care and health. Orbit Complete introduces a brand
new format to the range, a 14 tab
envelope pack. Each tab comes
individually wrapped and perfectly
sized to be used throughout the
day to prevent plaque.
The Orbit Complete range
includes 3 tab formats Spearmint (2006), Peppermint
(2006), Strong Mint (2006)
and a 10 pellet blister pack
format - Fresh Mint (2006).
In 2008 Orbit Complete
launched two new
mouth-watering flavours –
Strawberry and Lemon &
Lime – offering a fabulously
fruity new way to help
fight plaque.
18 benefits of chewing
Wrigley Science Institute
Spearmint, Doublemint and Juicy Fruit
Wrigley’s Spearmint® Gum was the first brand to
be launched in the UK in 1911. Its success was
followed by the launch of Doublemint® in 1960.
The classic Spearmint flavour has been
enjoyed around the world for over 100 years (it
was one of Wrigley’s original brands). Doublemint
too has been enjoyed by generations of
consumers and is available in over 140 countries.
Juicy Fruit® was launched in the UK in 1964
but is actually one of Wrigley’s oldest brands. Its
distinct flavour has been enjoyed by consumers
worldwide since 1892.
The Wrigley Science Institute (WSI) is
the first organisation of its kind focused
on advancing the research and
understanding the benefits of chewing
gum. It is headed by Executive
Director, Gilbert A. Leveille, PhD, one
of the world’s most respected nutrition
and food science professionals, Dr.
Leveille leads an advisory panel of
top scientists from around the globe,
including researchers from the US, the
UK, and China.
By the end of 2007, the Wrigley
Science Institute has funded fifteen
groundbreaking research studies. This
research includes four studies in the
US and UK to investigate the potential
role of chewing gum in appetite
control and weight management;
five studies in the UK and Asia to
examine the role chewing gum
may have in increasing focus and
concentration; five studies in the US
and UK to assess how chewing gum
may help reduce stress and one study
in the US to explore the effect of
chewing gum on reducing bacterial
inflammation in the oral cavity and it’s
potential relationship to disease risk.
Each research study uses state-of-theart methodology in its respective field
and researchers will complete the
studies and present findings at major
international scientific conferences.
“Chewing gum is a simple act
many of us do every day, yet we
rarely think about its potential
benefits. Not long ago, the same
could have been said about drinking
water, but today we know how
important and beneficial it is to
overall well-being. Chewing gum may
be similar and it could help people
achieve multiple wellness benefits,”
said Dr. Leveille. “It’s wonderful to
see Wrigley take the industry lead
in this new area and the potential
for scientific discovery makes me
tremendously excited to be a part of
the Wrigley Science Institute.”
For information on the Wrigley
Science Institute please contact
Alex MacHutchon on 0118 9317042
or email: Alex.MacHutchon@wrigley.
co.uk
benefits of chewing 19