From the Guidelines
Chewing gum is beneficial in restoring gut activity after colorectal surgery and is considered safe, as shown in studies 1.
Benefits of Chewing Gum
- Helps freshen breath
- Reduces dry mouth
- Increases saliva production
- May aid in preventing tooth decay when using sugar-free varieties containing xylitol
- Some studies suggest chewing gum may help with concentration, stress reduction, and appetite control
Precautions
- For those with jaw issues like TMJ disorders, excessive gum chewing should be avoided as it can worsen symptoms
- Sugar-free gum is recommended over sugar-containing varieties to prevent tooth decay
- Typical use involves chewing for 5-20 minutes after meals, though there's no strict limit as long as it doesn't cause jaw discomfort
Clinical Evidence
Studies have shown that chewing gum can have a positive effect on postoperative duration of ileus 1, and is considered a safe and beneficial practice in the context of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols 1.
Recommendation
Chewing gum can be recommended as a safe and potentially beneficial practice for patients undergoing colorectal surgery, as part of a multimodal approach to enhance recovery and reduce postoperative ileus 1.
From the Research
Chewing Gum Overview
- The world market for chewing gum is estimated to be 560,000 tons per year, representing approximately US $5 billion 2.
- Chewing gum can be expected to have an influence on oral health, with sugar-substituted chewing gum labeled as "safe for teeth" or "tooth-friendly" proven beneficial to the informed consumer 2.
Oral Health Benefits
- Chewing sugar-free gum provides a proven anti-caries benefit, promoting a strong flow of stimulated saliva that helps to provide dental benefits such as rapid oral clearance of sugars and neutralization of plaque pH 3.
- Xylitol, a naturally occurring sugar substitute, has anticariogenic properties and can reduce the occurrence of dental caries in young children, schoolchildren, and mothers 4.
- Xylitol has been found to be an effective strategy as a self-applied caries preventive agent, reducing DMF/dmf with a standard mean of -1.09 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], -1.34, -0.83) compared to all controls 5.
Chewing Gum Usage and Diet Quality
- Chewing gum use is associated with improved diet quality, with users more likely to have a healthy eating index (HEI) of 51-59 (OR: 1.86,95% CI: 1.11-3.12) and 60-93 (OR: 1.96,95% CI: 1.08-3.56) 6.
- Chewing gum use is also associated with decreased intakes of snacks (OR: 1.64,1.01-2.69) and added sugars 6.
Limitations and Future Studies
- There is an absence of observational research using nationally-representative data in the United States on the relationship between chewing gum and oral health status 6.
- Future observational studies that more accurately capture chewing gum usage are needed to fully understand the effects of chewing gum on oral health 6.