Can chewing gum improve and prolong your life?
Yes.
Last post I presented evidence that the act of chewing gum can temporarily improve short-term memory and test-taking performance (click to read).
These brain benefits are based on relatively new research, including functional MRI scans, but other well established research has demonstrated that chewing gum can improve your oral health; the condition of your teeth and gums. If you have healthy gums and good oral health, you are less likely to get sick.
People with poor dental nutrition, meaning untreated cavities and inflamed gums, are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease. The current thinking is that some heart and blood vessel disease, including atherosclerosis, is an inflammatory process, and if your gums and teeth are not in top condition—meaning they are chronically infected—your oral tissues will be slowly leaking toxic, infectious products into your bloodstream. These toxins then are slowly irritating, inflaming the walls of your blood vessels and leading to more vessel damage and making you more prone to heart attacks and strokes.
As an otolaryngologist, I saw tens of thousands of mouths over 25 years, and usually I got a fantastic clue as to how healthy someone was just by looking at their teeth and gums. Not always, but usually, if the gums were in good shape, so was the person, and if the person had bad oral hygiene, their body was not in such great shape either. 
Saliva is a good thing; in general the more the better. One of the causes of chronic gum infection and inflammation is dry mouth. Typically the more saliva you make, the healthier your mouth, and one reason chewing gum is healthy is because it stimulates saliva production. Saliva dilutes the acidic environment in your mouth that follows a meal—it washes away and neutralizes the acid and food particles that lead to chronic infection and dental plaque. The calcium and phosphate in saliva can strengthen your dental enamel. Further, low-grade gum irritation makes you more prone to diabetes, and if you already have diabetes, gum infection will make your blood sugar more difficult to control. Finally, a dry mouth makes bad breath more likely.
Even the normally conservative American Dental Association has endorsed certain chewing gums, and you can see which those are by clicking here. They typically contain tooth-friendly sugars like xylitol or sorbitol. The recommended “dose” is that you chew for up to 20 minutes after a meal. It’s particularly a good idea after you eat out—for example after lunch at work—and don’t brush until hours later.
Look for a gum with “Whitening” on the label. They cost more than regular gums, but are worth it. The only side effect I can think of is the act of chewing gum can in some people strain the TMJs (temporo-mandibular joints), so watch for any pain in front of your ears, and discuss any concerns with your dentist. Otherwise, give gum a try. It’s cheaper than most all medications, and a lot safer. It potentially can improve your oral health, your general health, your mental health, and your social life…as we get older, breath becomes more of an issue, and whatever we can do to combat bad breath and allow people to come physically closer, the better.
