Chewing gum: benefits or harm, rules of use. Myths About Chewing Gum Removes Mercury from Your Fillings

Since ancient times, people have been chewing something: the ancient Greeks - the resin of the mastic tree, the Mayans - rubber, the Siberians - larch resin, and in India - a mixture of aromatic leaves. All these “chewing gums” added aroma and freshness to the breath, eliminated unpleasant odors, cleaned the teeth, massaged the gums, and simply left a pleasant taste in the mouth. After the discovery of America, chewing tobacco appeared in Europe and became very widespread.

But this is all background. And the history of chewing gum began on September 23, 1848, when the world's first factory for its production appeared. Factory founder John Curtis I made a chewing mixture from the resin of coniferous trees with the addition of aromatics. But the first attempt to make chewing gum on an industrial scale was not successful. Nevertheless, the history of chewing gum begins its countdown from the founding of the factory.

On June 5, 1869, a dentist from Ohio patented his chewing gum recipe. And in 1871 Thomas Adams received a patent for the invention of a machine for the production of chewing gum. It was at his factory that, 17 years later, the famous “Tutti-frutti”, the chewing gum that conquered all of America, would be produced.

Since then, chewing gum has undergone many metamorphoses: it changed colors and tastes, was produced in the form of balls, cubes, butterflies, etc. and took a very important place in the lives of young people in the second half of the 20th century, and even today remains very popular.

13 facts about chewing gum

1. Chewing gum helps you lose weight. American scientists have discovered that the process of losing weight is facilitated by the use of chewing gum - it speeds up metabolism by as much as 19%.

Chewing gum also helps reduce appetite - chewing stimulates nerve endings that transmit a signal to the brain area responsible for satiety.

2. Chewing gum affects memory. There is active debate about the effect of chewing gum on memory. Thus, psychologists from England have found that chewing gum impairs short-term memory, which is needed for immediate orientation. A person may quickly forget the price of a product that he just held in his hands, or lose the keys in the apartment. According to scientists, any monotonous unconscious movement has a detrimental effect on it, that is, the person becomes more absent-minded.

But scientists from the University of Newcastle (USA) believe that when chewing, the activity of the parts of the brain responsible for memory increases, insulin production and heart rate increase, which means that a person thinks much better. Japanese researchers came to the same conclusion. During their experiment, chewing reduced the time it took subjects to complete tasks; chewers completed them 10% faster than those who did not chew gum.

3. Chewing gum is useful. During chewing, salivation increases, which helps clean the teeth; gums are also massaged, which to some extent prevents periodontal disease.

4. You can chew gum for no more than 5 minutes and only after eating. These are the recommendations of experts. If you chew gum longer, this will lead to the release of gastric juice into the empty stomach, which contributes to the development of stomach ulcers and gastritis.

5. Chewing gum is not a substitute for brushing your teeth. Dentists are confident that chewing gum cannot replace proper teeth cleaning. And even if you don’t have a toothbrush at hand, it’s better to replace it with water and rinse your mouth.

6. Chewing gum does not protect against tooth decay. Caries does not appear on the chewing surfaces, but on the interdental surfaces, so there is no benefit from chewing gum for the prevention of this disease.

7. Chewing gum is harmful to teeth. It destroys fillings, crowns and bridges. Destruction has both a mechanical effect on the teeth and a chemical one - saliva, which is formed during the chewing process, contributes to the formation of alkali, which corrodes fillings.

8. Chewing gum helps you recover faster after colon surgery. This occurs due to the activation of hormones in the digestive system during chewing. Thus, in the UK, when treating patients after intestinal surgery, it is recommended to chew gum for 30 minutes in the morning, lunch and evening. This helps patients quickly return to eating regular food and shortens the postoperative period. This effect of chewing gum is explained by the fact that when chewing, the secretory and motor activity of the intestine is reflexively stimulated.

9. Chewing gum is soothing. It is also a good remedy for stress and improves concentration. “This was proven by English scientists from Northumbria University. Chewing gum plays the role of a “simulator”, allowing many to relive the most blissful moments of their lives, when they were still fed on their mother’s milk. People switch off from anxiety,” explains psychoanalyst Alexander Genschel.

10. Chewing gum does not help get rid of bad breath. It has such a short-term effect that it can generally be called useless.

11. Chewing gum contains a dangerous substance. Aspartame is a sweetener, the substance was invented in 1965 and still arouses suspicion among doctors. The fact is that when aspartame breaks down in the body, two amino acids are formed - asparagine and phenylalanine, as well as a very dangerous alcohol - methanol. In certain concentrations, methanol is dangerous for pregnant women and affects the normal development of the fetus. In addition, methanol turns into carcinogenic formaldehyde.

12. Chewing gum should not be given to children and pregnant women. American neurologist John Olney proved the dangers of glutamate - it is an amino acid and a food additive that enhances taste. He discovered the phenomenon of excitotoxicity: the death of nerve cells due to their overexcitation caused by glutamate and aspartame. According to the scientist, these substances pose a great danger to the developing brain, which means during pregnancy and then until adolescence. The periods when you should definitely give up chewing gum are the last 3 months of pregnancy and the first 4 years of life.

13. There was always chewing gum! Archaeologists have found pieces of prehistoric resin in Northern Europe with imprints of human teeth, which date back to the 7th-2nd millennium BC. The ancient Greeks chewed the resin of the mastic tree, the Indians chewed the resin of conifers, and the Mayan tribes chewed chicle.

What can replace chewing gum?

Resin

The ancient Greeks chewed the resin of the mastic tree to freshen breath and cleanse the mouth. The Mayans used the frozen juice of the Hevea tree for the same purpose - rubber, and the North American Indians chewed the resin of coniferous trees, which was evaporated over a fire. In Siberia, larch resin is still often chewed; at first it crumbles, but then, after chewing for a long time, it gathers into a single piece. It not only cleans your teeth, but also strengthens your gums. They also often chew the resin of cherries, pine trees, spruce trees... But this requires very good and strong teeth. In Soviet childhood, we chewed tar - but this, of course, is the most extreme option.

Zabrus and beeswax

Since ancient times, bee products have been another natural chewing gum. Honeycomb covers - zabrus - are not so convenient to chew, because they crumble in the mouth, but they are very useful, since they also contain bee saliva, honey, and a little bee venom, which bees use to seal the honeycombs. Zabrus contains a high concentration of vitamins A, B, C, E, there are almost all the microelements necessary for humans and a very rare type of fat secreted by bee glands.

Coffee beans

You can freshen your breath not with chewing gum, but with... coffee. You need to chew a few grains, this will remove all unpleasant odors, for example, garlic or alcohol. The fact is that coffee beans contain substances that destroy bacteria - the cause of unpleasant odors. In addition, coffee in small quantities is beneficial - it invigorates and improves memory.

Mint and parsley leaves

Chewing gum is often chewed to silence the stomach, which requires food. In fact, this is a rather harmful activity, since using chewing gum on an empty stomach can lead to gastritis or aggravate existing gastric diseases. To suppress the feeling of hunger and, by the way, freshen your breath, you can chew a mint leaf or a sprig of parsley. These herbs are rich in essential oils and vitamins; they will not cause harm, but will dull your appetite.

Chewing marmalade

A sweet and healthy substitute for chewing gum is chewing marmalade. It is easy to prepare it yourself, and if you use molds or cut out figures from it, then this marmalade can distract your child from chewing gum in bright wrappers.

To prepare chewing marmalade you will need fruit (apples, pears), sugar, water, vegetable or olive oil. You need to peel the fruits, turn them into puree, and cook them with sugar and water. When this mass has cooled and caramelized, grease a wooden board with vegetable oil and place fruit puree on it, cover it with gauze. In summer, this mass can be placed where the sun's rays fall. After some time, cut it into slices.

For a long time I was interested in the question “to chew or not to chew gum” and then the difficult one took me to the dentist, where the following inscription on the stand attracted my attention: “Healing saliva.” And, as it turns out, if you intend to keep your teeth in order until you are very old, you simply cannot do without chewing gum! But provided that you chew the most ordinary gum without sugar, because only then is this thing useful for two reasons:

1. When you chew gum, it mechanically removes plaque from your teeth;
2. It triples the process of saliva production, which is extremely valuable for caries prevention.

In every second case, the active substances of saliva heal the onset of caries, while preventing microorganisms from deepening the tooth. And chewing gum is just the easiest way to fill the oral cavity with saliva and massage the gums, which to some extent prevents periodontal disease. That is why this children's fun has become an indispensable attribute of everyday life.

But we must not forget that for the beauty of your teeth, it is recommended to use chewing gum after each meal for no more than 5 minutes!

Therefore, based on this information from the stand, you can chew, but wisely? It seemed to me that this data was not enough to answer my question, so I continued my search.

What is chewing gum made of?

The first thing I did was buy chewing gum and study the ingredients in its composition for their harmful properties. The result was as follows:

Attention: if you are not interested in the composition, go straight to

1. E420 (sorbitol and sorbitol syrup) - sweetener.

Its excessive or prolonged consumption can cause increased flatulence (excessive accumulation of gases in the intestines), diarrhea (when consumed more than 30-40g per day), irritation of the mucous membranes of the digestive tract, damage to the vessels of the retina, and neuropathy.

2. Rubber base.

Previously, chewing gum was made from natural rubber, but this was a complex and expensive process. Therefore, now almost no one uses it, replacing the base with a synthetic component, which gives the chewing gum elasticity, viscousness and a long-lasting taste.

3. E967 (xylitol) - sweetener.

When consuming more than 50g of this substance per day, diarrhea may occur, however, the officially permissible dose has not yet been established. Also, people suffering from various diseases of the digestive system should take the sweetener with caution. Individual intolerance to the product and the appearance of kidney stones are possible with excessive consumption.

4. E414 (gum arabic) - thickener.

This food substance is non-toxic and therefore does not cause harm.

5. Flavors.

According to Doctor of Biological Sciences Olga Bagryantseva: “even if flavorings were at least somehow dangerous, the amount we eat would still not be enough to cause harm to health.”

6. Emulsifier soy lecithin.

In rare cases, possible side effects from use are dizziness, nausea, allergic reaction, individual intolerance.

7. E170 (calcium carbonate) - dye.

In quantities not exceeding the norm (1000-1200 mg per day), calcium carbonate is harmless, but an excess of it in the human body is extremely dangerous and can cause the development of hypercalcemia (increased calcium concentration in the blood plasma) and milk-alkali syndrome.

8. E171 (titanium dioxide) - dye.

It is difficult to find unambiguous information about this dye, but it is considered safe, provided that it is used in food in minimal dosages. At the same time, it is also not advisable to consume such products every day.

9. E421 (mannitol) - sweetener.

Long-term use and intake of more than 50 g of the substance per day (or 20 g at a time) can cause serious damage to health - this is diarrhea with subsequent disturbance of the water-salt balance, dehydration, irritation of the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract.

10. E951 (aspartame) - sweetener.

Excessive consumption of this sweetener can cause harm, which is manifested by the following side effects: allergic reactions, headaches (migraines, ringing in the ears), depression, insomnia. It is undesirable for pregnant women to use the chemical additive: the effect of the substance on the fetus has not been studied sufficiently. In addition, this sweetener is harmful to people suffering from phenylketonuria, namely, a hereditary disease that is associated with a disorder in the metabolism of the amino acid phenylalanine.

As a result of the accumulation of toxic products, due to improper metabolism, a lag in mental and physical development develops. That’s why the packaging of chewing gum says, “Contains a source of phenylalanine,” and that was the same on my chewing gum.

11. E950 (acesulfame potassium) - sweetener.

15 mg per kilogram of human body weight is the daily requirement established by the World Health Organization. However, its safety remains controversial. Other sources claim that some of the side effects from excessive consumption of products containing E950 are dehydration, nausea, headache, weakness and irritability.

12. E955 (sucralose (trichlorgalactosucrose)) - sweetener.

It is considered safe for the human body when consumed in limited quantities (15 mg per 1 kg of body weight per day).

13. E903 (carnauba wax) - glazing agent.

This food additive is not toxic, therefore, within reasonable limits, it will not cause harm to the body. It is not recommended to abuse it to avoid digestive problems and allergic reactions.

14. E341 (calcium phosphate) - acidity regulator.

According to some reports, it may cause stomach upset and affect blood cholesterol levels.

15. E524 (sodium hydroxide) - acidity regulator.

If you swallow sodium hydroxide, severe pain and a burning sensation in the abdomen will very quickly appear, and even anaphylactic shock is possible. At the slightest suspicion of poisoning, it is important to immediately call an ambulance. And although in the food industry sodium hydroxide is used in microdoses, to eliminate possible side effects, you should still not regularly consume food containing it.

16. E320 (butylated hydroxyanisole) - antioxidant

Minimal consumption of this supplement is unlikely to cause any serious disturbances in the functioning of human organs.

An excess can disrupt the functioning of the stomach, liver, and kidneys. It can also provoke serious allergic manifestations, including eczema and deep wounds. Manufacturers warn that butylated hydroxyanisole actively increases the amount of cholesterol in the blood. The recommended daily intake is no more than 0.5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight.

Why chewing gum can be harmful

After considering the negative qualities of the ingredients in chewing gum, I remained skeptical about it. Since, although there are strict standards for the production of this product, I still would not want to abuse it.

Therefore, I turned to the Internet with my question “to chew or not to chew.” Thanks to this, I came across the following recommendations on this topic from the therapist, Candidate of Medical Sciences A.N. Sinichkin:

The synthetic component of chewing gum is harmful

The synthetic components contained in chewing gum have a toxic effect and can lead to various negative consequences. In addition, chewing gum contains substances that can cause allergic reactions, such as skin rashes, bronchial asthma, and dysbacteriosis.

Loss of fillings and breakage of dentures

Chewing gum shortens the service life of installed fillings, even the highest quality ones. This happens because the filling is able to absorb all the flavors and dyes from chewing gum.

Also, the use of chewing gum will be detrimental for those with braces or plates. While chewing, you may bend the installed structure or the gum may stick to it.

Chewing gum contributes to the destruction of enamel

Chewing gum contains hard granules that scratch the surface of the tooth and can leave marks, especially on children's enamel. Microbes that cause caries will happily take advantage of this microcrack.

Negative effects on the human digestive system

Never use chewing gum before meals. When you chew, you signal to your stomach that food is about to arrive. Gastric juice begins to secrete, corroding the surface of the mucous membrane, since no food was received.

You've probably noticed more than once how your appetite wakes up while chewing.

If you often deceive the digestive organs in this way, you can provoke the development of serious diseases, such as ulcers, gastritis, erosion of the esophagus.

You should not use chewing gum for a long time.

This can overload the temporomandibular joint, and can also lead to depletion of the salivary glands, disrupting the bite and pronunciation of sounds.

You may not notice the resulting disease

Eliminating an unpleasant odor by chewing gum is not a very good habit, since the body can signal various diseases with the help of an unpleasant odor. The most important thing is to find and eliminate the cause, not the symptoms.

Possible entry of microbes into the human body

Microbes from the teeth are absorbed into the chewing gum. Favorable conditions are created for the growth of bacteria. By swallowing saliva, a person allows microbes to enter their body, which can contribute to the occurrence of future diseases.

Myths about chewing gum.

Both colored and white chewing gums cause harm when consumed.

You may have heard somewhere that colored chewing gums are more dangerous than white ones. So both options contain dangerous substances

Colored chewing gum contains styrene, which, when chewed, is released into the oral cavity, absorbed into the mouth and can cause headaches, loss of appetite, and nausea in humans.

Colorless chewing gums are also unsafe, as titanium white gives them whiteness.

The best toothbrush in the business

Chewing gum still helps clean your teeth, but it cannot fully replace a toothbrush. Plaque can accumulate between the teeth, and there the only thing that can help you is a toothbrush.

The benefits of chewing gum

Chewing gum stimulates saliva production.

Chewing gum is an excellent assistant in cleaning the mouth, in the absence of a toothbrush. During chewing, saliva is actively produced - a natural teeth cleaner. In order for saliva to appear in the oral cavity, you can chew a carrot instead of a gum.

Eliminates unpleasant odor

I think everything is clear here even without explanation.

Chewing gum helps you calm down

Chewing has been scientifically proven to help reduce cortisol levels. Cortisol is a stress hormone.

Accordingly, it can be noted that chewing gum has a number of significant contraindications. However, there are also benefits from it:

1. can act as a hygiene product for the oral cavity after meals;
2. increases salivation, which is beneficial for tooth enamel;
3. help train the chewing muscles
4. chewing prevents periodontal disease

But a prerequisite for these benefits is to limit the use of chewing gum to 5 minutes and only after eating!

What can replace chewing gum?

In order to eliminate the negative impact from the components that make up chewing gum, I decided to look for its analogues, and as it turned out there are some:

1. The first possible substitute is resin.

Nowadays there are even 100% natural chewing gums based on a resin composition, which can be found in pharmacies (information about availability was confirmed to me by a pharmacy chain with many locations in Moscow).

2. Zabrus (comb caps) and beeswax.

Zabrus is a beekeeping product that remains from cutting off the top part of sealed honeycombs. Although it is not so convenient to chew, it is very useful, as it contains bee saliva, honey and a little bee venom.

Not without vitamins. The zabrus contains vitamins such as A, B, C, E. It also contains all the microelements necessary for a person and a very rare type of fat secreted by bee glands.

3. Coffee beans.

Coffee beans contain a large amount of essential oils, volatile substances and acids. All this helps destroy harmful bacteria in the mouth and also freshens breath. Italian scientists conducted research and came to the conclusion that using coffee beans can reduce the risk of caries. This is because chewing these grains removes plaque from the teeth, which is a breeding ground for bacteria.

4. Mint and parsley leaves.

Mint and parsley are rich in essential oils. This means that they are an excellent aid in freshening the mouth.

Basic Rules

1. Chew only after eating and no more than 5 minutes (until loss of taste)
2. There is nothing better than a toothbrush. If there is an opportunity, take advantage of it
3. When wearing braces or plates, it is better to avoid chewing gum.

Based on the information received, from now on I think the answer to my question “to chew or not to chew gum” is to chew, but it’s better not to chew gum, but to its analogues or carrots.

Many people chew gum as a snack simply because they like the taste or its distracting properties. Some use it for stress relief or even as a tool to reduce food cravings (this doesn't usually work, as I'll explain briefly).

If you chew gum frequently, there is strong evidence that this is one habit you might want to quit. From its questionable ingredients to its effects on your teeth and digestion, chewing gum should be tossed straight in the trash—not chewed.

6 Unpleasant Side Effects of Chewing Gum

Chewing gum linked to headaches in adolescence

Teenagers are notorious for their frequency of chewing gum. If your child chews gum frequently And suffers, you should know that this connection was recently established.

One study involved 30 daily gum chewers between the ages of six and 19. Each of them suffered from chronic migraines or headaches.

After stopping chewing gum for one month, 19 of them experienced complete resolution of their headaches, and another seven experienced a reduction in the frequency and severity of their headaches. Twenty-six children started chewing gum again and their headaches returned within a few days.

Researchers believe the headaches may be related to a temporomandibular joint disorder caused by chewing gum, which can cause headaches. Previous studies have also shown that chewing gum may cause headaches through the effects of aspartame.

Most chewing gum contains artificial sweeteners

Maybe you can't pay much attention to the ingredients in your gum because, after all, you're not going to swallow it. But the ingredients, many of which are potentially dangerous, penetrate into your body, right through the walls of your mouth.

As with toxic ingredients in personal care products like lotion, which are absorbed directly through the skin and into the bloodstream, the ingredients in gum are also quickly and directly absorbed by your body, bypassing the digestive system, which normally helps filter out some of the toxins.

One such type of harmful chemical is the artificial sweetener that is found in chewing gum everywhere. Many people choose sugar-free gum specifically, believing that it is healthier than other types. But even sugar-free brands may contain artificial sweetener. This is normal for them.

One of the most commonly used artificial sweeteners in chewing gum is aspartame. Aspartame is metabolized inside your body into both wood alcohol (a poison) and formaldehyde (which is a carcinogen used as embalming fluid and is not removed from your body through normal waste filtration by your liver and kidneys). It is linked to birth defects, cancer, brain tumors and weight gain.

Sucralose (Splenda), another common artificial sweetener used in chewing gum, was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on only two human studies, the longest of which lasted only four days - although animal studies showed that the sweetener was associated with decreased red blood cells (a sign of anemia), male infertility, enlarged kidneys, spontaneous abortions and increased mortality.

You may also be surprised to learn that consuming artificial sweeteners can cause distortions in your biochemistry, which can cause you to gain weight.

Research examining this issue shows very clearly that artificial sweeteners may actually increase weight more than sugar by stimulating your appetite, increasing carbohydrate cravings, and stimulating fat storage.

4 Chewing Gum Ingredients You Should Avoid

There are natural gums on the market that don't contain these questionable ingredients, so if you need to chew gum, look for them.

However, keep in mind that even natural chewing gum will present dangers when chewed excessively, including temporomandibular joint disorder, digestive problems, and more.

1. BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene): BHT is so toxic that it is already banned in many countries. In the US, it is often used as a preservative in chewing gum and other processed foods. BHT is associated with organ toxicity, including kidney and liver damage, hyperactivity in children, and may be carcinogenic.

2. Calcium peptone casein (calcium phosphate): Found in Trident gum, this ingredient is supposed to be used as a whitening agent or texturizer. As a highly processed dairy derivative, little is known about its long-term consumption, although casein has previously been linked to infant formula poisonings in China and is a well-known trigger of autoimmunity.

3. Chewing Base: It's quite mysterious what the "gum base" actually is, but researchers have found that it is usually a mixture of elastomers, resins, plasticizers and fillers. Most manufacturers do not disclose details. After all, they don't want you to know that you're potentially chewing paraffin wax, polyvinyl acetate (PVA), and talc, all of which are linked to cancer.

4. Titanium dioxide: Titanium dioxide is often used as a whitening agent in chewing gum, but it is associated with autoimmune disorders, asthma and Crohn's disease and is potentially carcinogenic, especially in nanoparticle form. One study found that children are highly exposed to titanium dioxide in confectionery, with chewing gum containing the highest levels.

Why are you chewing gum?

Below are a few common reasons why people chew gum, as well as alternatives to help you break the habit, but feel free to list your own creative solutions in the comments section below.

• To relieve stress: Try these eight stress-busting tips, as well, which is based on the concept that vital energy flows through your body along invisible pathways known as meridians. EFT stimulates different meridian energy points in your body by pressing on them with your fingertips while using your own verbal affirmations.
• To freshen your breath: Bring a toothbrush and toothpaste with you so you can brush your teeth even when you're on the go. A natural breath spray also works well for this purpose.
• To overcome food cravings: Tapping and positive EFT affirmations are often effective in reducing food cravings.
• For aroma: For healthier, flavorful options, try drinking water infused with fresh mint leaves, cinnamon, or citrus fruit.

Completed by: 11th grade student

Danielyan A.

Head: biology teacher

Kucherenko E.V.

P. Krasnogornyatsky

Content.

I. Introduction 3 pages

II. The effect of chewing gum on thought processes

person.

The history of chewing gum 4 pages.

Composition of chewing gum 5-6 pages.

“Choosing pleasure” 6-7 pp.

“A little about the sad” 7-8 pp.

III. Material and methodology 9 pages.

IV. Research results 10-13 pages.

V. Conclusions 14 pages.

VI. List of used literature 15 pages.

VII. Application

Introduction.

Everyone chews gum - both children and adults. Demand for it does not depend on fashion or time of year and always remains stable. Today, in the homeland of chewing gum - in the USA - more than 100 varieties of chewing gum are sold. Every year Americans spend $2 billion on chewing gum. The average US resident consumes 300 pieces of gum per year.

In Russia, the most chewing group of the population is a group of schoolchildren. Every 3 schoolchildren chews from one to 3 hours daily, which does not leave much to be desired.

What causes this addiction among people to chewing gum? Each person chews for his own purposes. The majority of people use chewing gum to freshen their breath. The smallest amount is chewed by inertia. And only a negligible number of people give up chewing gum.

Propaganda also influences the minds of large audiences. Everyone is familiar with the advertisements for “Wrigley” and “Dirola” chewing gums and many others: we see them on TV screens, the pages of newspapers and magazines, and advertising posters. Small packs of chewing gum are a big business. However, there was no detailed information about this product: consumers know no more about it than advertising allows. – That is why this topic became the object of my attention.

However, if people do not reduce their use of chewing gum, then perhaps in 50 years planet Earth will be called the chewing gum planet.

In my research work I set myselftarget - identify the effect of chewing gum on human cognitive processes.

To achieve my goal, I set myself certaintasks:

Study the history of the origin and use of chewing gum.

Study the composition of chewing gum and establish the effect of harmful substances contained in it on the human body.

To identify the effect of chewing gum on cognitive processes.

Determine the reason for using chewing gum.

The study was conducted on the basis of municipal educational institution secondary school No. 23 of the Oktyabrsky district of the Rostov region in 2009.

II . The effect of chewing gum on cognitive processes.

The history of chewing gum.

Humanity's passion for the process of chewing has been known since ancient times. This is confirmed by archaeological finds dating back to the Stone Age. Pieces of prehistoric resin with imprints of human teeth have been found in Northern Europe. They date back to the 7th-2nd millennia BC. For centuries, the Greeks chewed mastic gum, which was obtained from the bark of the mastic tree, a bush-like plant found primarily in Greece and Turkey. From the Indians of New England, American colonists learned to chew the rubber-like resin that forms on spruce trees when the bark is cut from them. Chunks of spruce gum have been sold in the eastern United States since the early 1800s, representing the first commercial form of chewing gum in this country. Sweetened wax became popular around the 1850s and subsequently greatly surpassed spruce resin in popularity.

The modern variety of chewing gum first appeared in the late 1860s, when it was introduced to the United States.chicle . Chicle is made from the milky sap (latex) of the sapodilla tree, native to the tropical rain forests of Central America. Improvements in production methods for this product led to the birth of a new type of industry.

The twentieth century is so far the only century in history from the beginning to the end of which humanity chewed gum. This product was invented only a little over a hundred years ago, but by the beginning of the 20th century it had become a popular pastime for which millions of people willingly paid money. Chewing gum turned out to be a real commercial miracle. And to a certain extent, even a commodity through which the history of the twentieth century can be told.

It seemed that humanity had acquired a new “fad” only for a while, until the eccentric fashion disappeared. Fate, however, decreed differently. Did William Wrigley know, did other pioneers of the “chewing industry” know that that same trifle, “something for something,” as they once called their product, would remain the favorite pastime of millions of people, turning into an object for many for many years? essentials?

New inventions formed a new world community in which people were connected by invisible threads of preferences and tastes. Being in form a tool for the socialization of people, chewing gum introduced an element of personalization, giving a way to look at the world from your own, unique position. Chewing gum is the closest thing to a person: what could be closer than what is in the mouth? Even in a pack, records are individuals, being separate from each other. Each of them is dressed in its own candy wrapper, and each has its own destiny.

Chewing gum composition.

Chewing gum is a means of improving oral hygiene by increasing the amount of saliva and the rate of salivation, which helps clean tooth surfaces and neutralize organic acids produced by plaque bacteria.

The composition of chewing gum includes: a base (to bind all the ingredients), sweeteners (sugar, corn syrup or sweeteners), flavorings (for good taste and aroma), softeners (to create the appropriate consistency during chewing).

In any chewing gum, the main ingredient is sugar (can also be glucose or dextrose) or sweeteners. They provide 60 to 80% of the chewing gum's weight. All these substances occur in nature. They can be found, for example, in many fruits, such as pears, apples, and also in berries (for example, cherries or strawberries). Sweeteners have less sweetness than sugar (from 0.9 to 0.4, if we take the sweetness of sucrose as 1). Therefore, in order to compensate for the less sweet taste of a sugar-free product, intense sweeteners are used - aspartame or acesulfame potassium. Since their sweetness exceeds the sweetness of sugar hundreds of times, they are used in gum in very small quantities (the content of aspartame in gum is several times lower than in a ripe pear - there is more of it in one pear than in a block of our gum). The only restriction on the use of chewing gum is associated with the use of aspartame - since one of its components is phenylalaline, gum with aspartame is contraindicated for use by patients with phenylketonuria (a rare hereditary disease) - phenylalaline significantly worsens their healthVevent.

Currently, chewing gum containing the sweetener xylitol, the anti-cariogenic effect of which was first shown by research at the University of Turku, Finland, has a predominant effect. Xylitol supplied with chewing gum remains in the oral cavity for a long time and has a beneficial effect.

To give chewing gum flavor, flavorings are added - complex mixtures of natural and artificially produced aromatic substances. To ensure longer-term preservation of taste during chewing, various complex modern technologies are used, such as encapsulation of flavorings (when using this technology, the aromatic substance enters, as it were, into a micro-bag of a neutral substance. When chewing, the bags burst gradually, ensuring the gradual release of the flavor). Flavors are created based on natural oils of various plants and fruits. To prevent chewing gum from losing moisture and becoming brittle, stabilizers that retain moisture, such as glycerin, are used. Sour gum varieties (Lemon Fresh) use various organic acids to provide flavor, such as citric acid. To color the gum, food dyes are used that are safe for use in food. For example, titanium dioxide dye is used to give the Orbit glaze a snow-white color. To produce gum in dragees, ingredients are needed to form a sweetener glaze, such as gum arabic or carnouba wax.

“Choose pleasure.”

If you look at the label of our gum, you will notice that most of the ingredients are accompanied by the E index - the index for the nomenclature of food additives. Most of them are absolutely harmless, and many are familiar to us at home - for example, salt, citric acid, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), vinegar, etc.

The use of food additives that could be harmful if consumed in excess is strictly regulated. Their maximum content in products is calculated so that during normal consumption it in no way exceeds the threshold dose at which harmful consequences for the body may occur. So, for example, in order to harm yourself by excessive consumption of the antioxidant E320, you need to chew about a kilogram of gum at a time.

No matter how difficult it may be to make out small inscriptions on packages, read them. Chewing gum contains both beneficial and harmful substances.

With a "+" sign

Research has found that replacing sugar with sorbitol, mannitol, and xylitol reduces the incidence of caries. Most chewing gum uses these sweeteners.

It’s good when chewing gum contains calcium lactate: tooth enamel receives this mineral to restore microdamage from saliva.

With a "-" sign

Most often, chewing gum contains dyes - E171, E102, E133, E129, E132, taste stabilizers - E414, E422, emulsifier - E322, which harm the liver.

It's best to avoid chewing gum with "naturally identical flavorings." Incomplete information on the label can already be classified as a sign of low quality product.

Chewing gum made in third world countries uses styrene-butadiene rubber (in Russia it is prohibited for use in food production). Such “chewing gum” can only be determined by tasting: it is usually harder, quickly loses its taste and begins to taste bitter.

« A little about sad things."

Let's start with the fact that the use of “chewing gum” is the prerogative of people with generally healthy teeth and gums. For those suffering from periodontitis, it is better not to chew after eating, but to rinse the mouth with dental elixirs and herbal infusions. Several years ago, some US states, Singapore and some European countries began to ban chewing gum in public places. This is done not only for environmental reasons (during the “chewing gum” boom, the asphalt on the streets of large cities was literally overgrown with “waste”) and not because chewing can distract from work, but also because it is completely harmless and does not contain no narcotic additives, modern chewing gum develops... addiction. Almost the same as for coffee and cigarettes.

Not only do psychologists note that those who constantly chew have a painful addiction, they also note that children who keep chewing gum out of their mouths have a reduced level of intelligence. The rubber band makes it impossible to concentrate, dulls attention and weakens the thinking process. And dentists, in turn, warn that after a couple of years of continuous chewing, diseases associated with periodontal overload begin to progress.

Research conducted by American doctors has shown that there are other side effects:

destruction of bridges, crowns and other dental structures

excessive development of masticatory muscles

increased levels of mercury in the body in people with old fillings from

amalgams

aerophagia (swallowing excess air), etc.. (Annex 1)

One of the most important properties of chewing gum is its ability to increase salivation three times compared to the resting state, and saliva also enters hard-to-reach areas of the teeth.

Chewing gum exerts its effect on oral tissues in the following ways:

increases the rate of salivation;

stimulates the secretion of saliva with increased buffer capacity;

helps neutralize plaque acids;

facilitates the washing of hard-to-reach areas of the oral cavity with saliva;

improves the clearance of sucrose from saliva;

Helps remove food residues.

It is worth dwelling on objections to the use of chewing gum that mention stomach diseases and lesions of the temporomandibular joint. If chewing gum is used correctly, pathology will not occur.Chewing is additional work for underused jaws, an excellent exercise for the gum vessels and a means of combating soft plaque.Based on the results of numerous studies, recommendations can be made for the use of chewing gum. (Appendix 2).

Materials and methods.

Testing logical thinking.

Goal of the work: assessment of logical thinking.

Equipment: stopwatch, a sheet of paper with a picture of number series.

To assess a person’s logical thinking, I distributed sheets of paper with images of number series to four subjects (Appendix 3). Each of the volunteers searched for a pattern in the construction of the series for four minutes and filled in the missing numbers. Then, I repeated this experiment with the same students, but now they performed this task while chewing chewing gum intensively.

Checking your attention span.

Goal of the work: determination of attention span.

Equipment: prepared table, stopwatch, pencil.

To test a person’s attention span, I gave four volunteers sheets of paper with a set of numbers (from 101 to 136) (Appendix 4). The subject had to find the numbers on the proposed table in ascending order and cross out each of them with a pencil. Each of the subjects completed the task individually.

To study the effect of chewing gum on attention span, I distributed chewing gum to the same subjects and invited them to repeat the work done, but with intensive chewing.

Short-term memory.

Goal of the work: determine the capacity of short-term memory.

Equipment: text of 25 words, watch, blank sheet of paper, pencil.

To test a person’s short-term memory, I distributed sheets containing a text of 25 words to four subjects (Appendix 5). And she gave them the opportunity to familiarize themselves with it for 1 minute. Then, each of the students reproduced the words he remembered on a blank sheet of paper in 4 minutes.

Subsequently, we repeated the same process, except that the subjects chewed chewing gum.

Research results.

Questionnaire “Why do we chew?”

When conducting a survey (Appendix 6) among students in grades 6-10, it was found that most students use chewing gum to freshen the mouth, and for some it is caused by habit (Figure 1). Preference is given to Orbit chewing gum. For communication, they choose “non-chewing” interlocutors.

Figure 1 "Using chewing gum"

Among the respondents, many have information about the effects of chewing gum on the human body, but they chew much longer than expected (Figure 2).

Figure 2 "Effects of chewing gum on the human body"

Those suffering from gastrointestinal diseases do not know that chewing gum may be the cause (Figure 3).

Figure 3 "Chewing gum and gastrointestinal diseases"

Despite everything, to cleanse the oral cavity, 100% of respondents prefer using toothpaste (Figure 4); 72% of students believe that chewing worsens memory (Figure 5).

Figure 4 "Oral cavity cleanser"

Figure 5 "Effect of chewing gum on memory"

Assessment of logical thinking.

After assessing the logical thinking of subjects who do not chew chewing gum and comparing the results obtained with the conclusion made after conducting an experiment with it (chewing gum), it should be noted that the logical thinking of the subjects deteriorated by more than 20%, from 75% to 55%. (Figure 6).

Figure 6 "Logical thinking"

Assessment of attention span.

Using the formula for calculating attention span:

B=648: t,

WhereB- amount of attention,

t- operating time in seconds,

I compared the data obtained before and after chewing gum with the standards of indicators and found that the attention span of the subjects, as well as logical thinking, decreased at a noticeable level (81% of those who did not chew the attention span was slightly above average, and 19% of those who chewed the indicator dropped below the average “bar” (Figure 7).

Figure 7 "Assessment of attention span"

3 . Memory capacity estimation.

Using the table for determining memory capacity, I identified the memory category of the subjects based on the sum of points (each reproduced word is worth one point). The results were not surprising: the initial memory capacity of the majority of subjects (94%) falls into the “good” category. With intense chewing, memory sharply deteriorated by 50% (Figure 8).

Figure 8 "Memory capacity estimate"

Conclusions of the study.

After analyzing the results of the research work, I came to an indisputable conclusion:

The use of chewing gum among the students of our school is due to the elimination of unpleasant odor and obtaining a pleasant taste sensation.

Some components of chewing gum can have a negative effect on the human body.

Chewing gum has an adverse effect on a person's thought processes. In particular, this is due to the fact that it prevents people from concentrating when solving mental problems.

List of sources used.

Engeldfrind Y., Mulhall D., Pleteneva T.V. How to protect yourself from hazardous substances in everyday life. - M., Moscow State University, 1994.

Maimulov V.G., Artamonova V.G., Dadali V.A. and others. Medical and environmental monitoring. – St. Petersburg, 1993.

Knorre D.G., Myzina S.D. "Biological Chemistry". – M., “Higher School”, 2002.

Journal "Biology" No. 19, 2008

Internet resources.

ANNEX 1.

Side effects of chewing gum.

APPENDIX 2.

Chewing gum should be used by both children and adults;

It is better to use chewing gum that does not contain sugar;

For adults:

You can chew for no more than 5 minutes before eating. The salivary glands instantly react to the presence of “chewing gum” in the mouth and secrete digestive enzymes. The brain receives a signal: “get ready to eat,” and juice production begins in the stomach. But there is no food, and the acid eats away the mucous membrane. 5 minutes is the approximate time it takes for the signal to travel from the brain to the stomach.

After lunch or snacks throughout the day, chew gum for no more than 15 minutes. This is usually enough to prevent the formation of soft plaque and restore the acid balance.

For children:

You can use it from about 4 years old and only white (without dyes). The child needs to be explained the hygienic purpose of chewing gum and taught to throw it away immediately after it stops being tasty.

Give "chewing gum" only after lunch and afternoon snack and for no more than 15 minutes - otherwise the habit of chewing will become entrenched. Today's constantly chewing teenagers are potential clients of dental clinics. The incompletely formed enamel of “young” teeth is too thin and easily erased.

Do not give chewing gum before meals: the child may lose his appetite and have a bad stomach.

Explain that chewing gum should never be swallowed. It can get stuck in the gastrointestinal tract. There are cases when “chewing gum” became the cause of gastric lavage in hospital conditions.

It must be remembered thatUncontrolled and indiscriminate use of chewing gum many times during the day can be harmful to your health!

APPENDIX 3.

Assessment of logical thinking .

Number series:

1) 24, 21,19, 18,15, 13, 7;

2) 1,4, 9, 16, 49, 64, 81, 100;

3) 16,17,15,18,14,19, ;

4) 1,3,6,8, 16, 18, 76,78;

5) 7,16,9,5,21,16,9,4;

6) 2,4,8,10,20,22,92,94;

7)24,22,19,15, ;

8) 19 (30) 11; 23 () 27;

APPENDIX 4.

Determining your attention span

TABLE FOR DETERMINING ATTENTION CAPACITY

APPENDIX 5.

Determination of the volume of short-term memory.

WORDS FOR TEXT:

Hay, key, plane, train, picture, month, singer, radio, grass, pass, car, heart, bouquet, sidewalk, century, film, aroma, mountains, ocean, stillness, calendar, man, woman, abstraction, helicopter.

APPENDIX 6.

Questionnaire “Why do we chew?”

For what purpose do you use chewing gum?

How often do you chew?

How long do you chew?

What chewing gum do you prefer?

Do you know anything about the effects of chewing gum on the human body?

What do you think is better for cleaning the mouth?

Do you enjoy communicating with a chewing person?

Do you think memory gets worse or better when chewing?

Have you ever encountered health problems due to chewing gum?

Do you suffer from gastrointestinal diseases?

Modern advertising of chewing gum promises us fresh breath, protection against caries, teeth whitening and many other amazing effects. The media debunk these myths and talk about the uselessness and even harmful properties of chewing gum. We've collected some of the most popular facts about chewing gum to prove or disprove them.

Chewing gum prevents tooth decay

Yes and no. This only applies to sugar-free chewing gum. This chewing gum actually removes plaque and food debris, reducing the risk of disease by a third. However, it cannot remove plaque in the same way as a toothbrush. Solution: use chewing gum after meals in conditions where it is not possible to brush your teeth (for example, at work).

Chewing gum whitens teeth

Chewing gum may act as a laxative

Yes. The composition of chewing gum is its main enemy. Chemical dyes, flavors, and sweeteners cause a bunch of undesirable consequences, the most innocent of which are allergies and diarrhea. Sugar substitutes (sorbitol, xylitol, maltitol, mannitol) act as a laxative. In addition, these substances can retain some of the water in the large intestine, causing cramps and flatulence.

Chewing gum helps you lose weight

No. Chewing between meals does not dull the feeling of hunger. Moreover, chewing gum is contraindicated for people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. During chewing, we, like Pavlov’s dogs, actively secrete saliva and gastric juice, which can subsequently lead to serious problems (gastritis, duodenitis and other troubles).

Accidentally swallowed chewing gum is not digested, but remains in the stomach for seven years

No. Fortunately, our body does not tolerate such long periods. The composition of the chewing gum really allows it not to be digested, but it can remain in the gastrointestinal tract for a maximum of 1-2 days, until your painful suspicions are interrupted naturally. Most likely, everything will happen even earlier, because sorbitol (a component of many chewing gums), as we have already found out, acts as a laxative. You should only worry if a small child swallowed the gum and it did not come out within the prescribed period.

Chewing gum helps you concentrate

Yes. Japanese scientists have concluded that the process of chewing actually activates areas of the brain responsible for attention and motor functions. Volunteers who took intelligence tests performed on average 10% faster and better on tasks when chewing gum (but without taste or smell).

Chewing gum causes wrinkles

Yes. Alas. Chewing gum lovers, according to the observations of plastic surgeons in the United States, are susceptible to the formation of wrinkles around the mouth. Excessive tension in the facial muscles leads to gradual deformations in the skin, the skin loses its elasticity and wrinkles form. Therefore, you should not get carried away with chewing gum if you want to maintain healthy skin.

Of course, chewing gum can be beneficial in some situations. For example, if you feel sick in a car, chew gum and the nausea will go away. Chewing gum also helps relieve stuffy ears on an airplane.

But if you suffer from periodontal disease, have problems with tooth mobility, or use dental appliances, you should absolutely not use chewing gum, as chewing gum can contribute to tooth decay.

Tatyana Zaidal