Chewing gum - good or bad for humans and the environment

In order to answer this question, let's understand how chewing gum came into being in the first place.

People since ancient times around the world chewed natural materials. First it was hardened resin and milky sap of trees, various sweet herbs, leaves, grains and waxes. For example, in Greece, the resin of the mastic tree was chewed to cleanse the teeth and refresh the breath. The Indians quenched their thirst with the resin of conifers. In Russia, larch resin was used. In the early 19th century, pieces of resin began to be sold. Then the resin was replaced by sweetened paraffin wax.

Modern chewing gum came from chewing gum made of chicle, which is the sap of the sapodilla tree from the rainforests. Then they started using rubber to create chewing gum to exercise the jaws and strengthen the gums. Nowadays, chewing gum is made from artificial latex, and chewing gum has become more elastic and less sticky.

About the effect of chewing gum on people and their health many studies have been conducted and scientists have come to the conclusion that it can have positive effects: to ease and refresh breath; to take care of the teeth, but chewing gum can not completely clean the mouth from food debris that gets stuck between the teeth, in any case need a toothbrush and floss; chewing gum stimulates saliva flow, and saliva flushes sugar, harmful to teeth; and also brings the joy of children blowing bubbles.

In addition, unusual health benefits of chewing gum have been observed. In an experiment involving truck drivers who were behind the wheel while driving and soldiers who were doing laser firing in an interactive simulator center, it was found that chewing gum increases attention, relieves sleepiness, stress and nervous tension.

But chewing gum can also have harmful effects on the body, causing gastritis and allergic reactions if chewed on an empty stomach and for more than 10-15 minutes.

As for the environmental impact of chewing gum, since it consists of an insoluble and non-degradable base, it causes damage to the street interior - sidewalks, house walls and benches. Chemicals don't do the trick. In California, there's a wall that anyone can stick their chewing gum on. This was invented to draw people's attention to this environmental problem!