Chewing Gum Can Help with Your Anxiety

In the current times, anxiety has become the most common problem faced by people of all ages. Indeed, everybody cannot go for medical and therapeutic treatment but you will be surprised to know that chewing gum can help with your anxiety and stress. It is one of the simplest and most inexpensive methods to solve your problem. You can take this portable solution with you wherever you go, and chew it whenever you feel anxious and worried. Are you feeling anxious these days? Chewing gum can help with your anxiety.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a complicated and common problem that affects millions of people all over the world. Both generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder can make it hard to go about daily life. People with social anxiety disorder are very afraid of interacting with other people, while people with generalised anxiety disorder feel uneasy all the time. Children mostly face anxiety due to academic pressure and peer competition. Adults face anxiety primarily due to work pressure while certain social situations cause anxiety among the elders. The ability to effectively manage anxiety is critical to the maintenance of both physical and mental health.

Chewing Gums and Anxiety

Are you anxious? Chewing gum can help with your anxiety. The connection between anxiety and chewing gum is very fascinating. The areas of the brain that are associated with anxiety and stress are stimulated by chewing gum to release the dopamine hormone. This phenomenon in turn promotes a happy mood and calmness of mind. Chewing gum increases the blood supply to the brain. Therefore, the more you chew, the more it diverts your attention from depression, stress, and anxiety. A research report analyzed the data of almost 400 participants. The findings revealed a significant reduction in anxiety and depression among adults who chew gums regularly, compared to those who do not. Even when you are in a state of confusion, you might be surprised by the calming effect that it provides [1].

Practical application in daily life

A pack of gum is all that is required to get started. If you find that you are constantly experiencing nervous butterflies, you might find it helpful to put a stick in your mouth and focus on the sensation of chewing. It is important to try out a wide variety of flavours and textures until you find the one that you cherish the most. While chewing just pay attention to the taste, the texture, and the movement of your jaw to maximize the soothing effect.

Considerations

You must remember that chewing gum is not the solution to all mental health problems and there are certain things that you must keep in mind:

It is a cure for moderate levels of anxiety but persistent mental issues may require professional help.
If you are having severe mental issues like panic attacks, you need to see a health professional. Although chewing can help you distract from obsessive thoughts, you still need a listening ear to discuss those thoughts.
Gum that contains sugar can make you more likely to develop cavities; therefore, sugar-free gum is probably the best option for your teeth.

It is easy to see how gum’s availability and ease of use could enhance traditional methods of anxiety reduction, even though gum is not a remedy for all diseases. Give chewing gum a shot the next time you find yourself feeling stressed out or when you are getting ready to give a presentation. You might be pleasantly surprised by the calming effect it has. Use this as a first step toward managing anxiety. It is a small but important step.

Ideal Chewing Gum

You must keep three things in mind when selecting chewing gum:

It must be sugar-free to prevent cavities.
Choose your favourite flavour so that you enjoy chewing it more and more.
Try to find Xylitol because it possesses anti-microbial properties that maintain healthy teeth and gums.

Beneficial for Students

Students who chew gums before their studies can perform better in their academic careers and it also relieves their exam stress. Also, chewing gum boosts memory by triggering the brain area associated with memory. Naturally, stress reduces your ability to perform cognitive as well as motor functions. Therefore, by chewing gum, you can relieve stress and improve your overall performance.

Besides stress reduction, it also helps the student in quitting smoking habits by reducing their cravings for cigarettes. The more they chew gums, the more it diverts their attention from smoking [2].

Flossing and Interdental Brushing

Apart from anxiety reduction, brushing, flossing or interdental brushing is essential for maintaining overall oral health. Poor Oral Hygiene and particularly gum diseases are the main contributing factors causing anxiety and discomfort. Regular self-care practices can help you feel more in control of your life and more accomplished. This feeling of control and accomplishment can help reduce feelings of anxiety. Moreover, these dental hygiene practices that are performed regularly contribute to the maintenance of total physical and mental wellness.

Conclusion

Chewing gum may not work for everyone, but it’s simple to use and lowers anxiety levels. Give it a try if you are feeling anxious or worried next time. But considering the severity of mental health problems, it is very important to employ a comprehensive strategy that comprises a wide range of techniques. Also, seek professional help when needed. You can confront the worries of life with more self-assurance and calmness by having a pack of gum. You can also seek professional guidance and engage in self-care routines like flossing and interdental brushing for additional support.

Buy some Healthy Chewing gum here!

References

[1] Chewing gum is an inexpensive, well-tolerated, safe, and effective way to relieve anxiety and stress – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35140905/.

[2] Research studies have found that chewing gum can help in Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8406789/.