Nausea is an uncomfortable feeling that can be prevalent in many individuals’ lives.

Nausea can be the result of a multitude of stimuli, such as overeating, pregnancy, motion sickness, seasickness, stress, gastrointestinal disorders, and more. While medications are available to help reduce this side effect, there may be one simple solution that seems too trivial and common to be true – chewing gum. 

What Is In Chewing Gum?

This sweetened product has been utilized since ancient times as either a tooth cleanser or breath freshener. While in the past, materials such as sweet resin or chicle (a type of latex from a tree) were used, it is now usually composed of a gum-base with resin, wax, and elastomer. In addition to these three main ingredients, there can be sweeteners, softeners, flavoring, and polyol coating (a hard, sugar-free coating that protects the chewing gum and provides a pleasant, often colorful, appearance) added to create the beloved chewing gum found in our grocery stores today. 

Why Does it Help Reduce Nausea?

Acid reflux due to eating heavy foods or overeating is a common effect that causes acid to build up in the esophagus. Saliva production is an innate process that increases when we eat in order to protect our mouth and teeth by neutralizing the acidic environment caused by eating food. Chewing gum can elevate saliva production which balances the pH in the mouth to stay in a healthy range of 6.2 to 7.6. Additionally, chewing gum encourages the individual to swallow more and counteract this acidity that can occur from acid reflux or eating food in general. 

When an individual chews gum, there will be more saliva production that helps to balance the pH in one’s mouth. 

Gum for the operating room

One study conducted in Korea studied the effect of chewing gum to reduce the discomfort of taking a bowel cleansing solution (polyethylene alcohol) in preparation for a colonoscopy. The groups were divided into the control group and the experimental group, which consisted of individuals who chewed one stick of sugarless gum during the time period of taking the polyethylene glycol solution. The study resulted in the experimental group reporting significantly lower abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and quicker ingestion of the solution. 

Another study conducted by Dr. Jai Darvall aimed to test if the novel chewing gum treatment can help nausea and vomiting after surgery in comparison to common drugs. In the study, 15 out of 47 patients experienced nausea and vomiting post-surgery. Out of 12 symptom-experiencing patients who opted to try a stick of Wrigley’s gum, 9 patients claimed that the gum counteracted their symptoms within 10 minutes. In contrast, only 5 out of 13 patients who were given a drug (ondansetron) instead of gum claimed to have their symptoms resolved. While this was only a pilot and small study, it provides evidence that chewing gum is not inferior to common drug treatments and inquires continued research to explore this novel form of therapy.

Is all Gum Equally Effective?

The best types of gum are:

• Sugar-Free 

Sugar can cause tooth decay, which occurs when the enamel and dentine of the tooth dissolve, leading to cavities. Sugar-free gum is made with sweeteners that are still produced with a variety of wonderful flavors

• Made with Bicarbonate

Bicarbonate helps increase salivary flow in the mouth and aid in oral health. It also increases the salivary pH by acting as a buffer, which can neutralize the acidity from food and even promote enamel remineralization. It is already a naturally occurring substance in our saliva, so chewing gum with bicarbonate can promote its benefits.

• Made with Xylitol 

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is most commonly used as a sweetener.  It is believed to  have antiplaque effects on the surfaces of teeth. If one decides to chew more gum, this can help prevent bacteria from sticking to tooth enamel and has even been found to help replace the minerals in tooth enamel, along with other possible benefits physiologically.

Other Benefits of Chewing Gum Include:

Stress Reduction  

Control Food Intake

As with all alternatives, the benefits of chewing gum may or may not be applicable depending on the individual. However, there are many unexpected benefits of chewing gum, which is a cost-efficient and easily accessible item that does more than keep our breath fresh.