It’s funny sometimes the things you remember from your past.

When I was taking high school Spanish, our teacher Mrs. DePickett used to tell anyone who was chewing gum to, “Escupir su chicle, por favor.”

Meaning we had to choose between spitting out our gum or getting sent to the principal’s office.

I typically chose the former.

But my gum chewing days did not end after high school Spanish class and continued into my 20’s as a measure to help freshen my breath. After all, who wants bad breath, right?

If I only knew then what I know now I would have been very anxious to “escupir mi chicle” with no hesitation!

This is why I say that—here are…

The unknown dangers of chewing gum

I would suspect most gum chewers use gum as a breath freshener or perhaps to get a bad taste out of their mouth or eliminate dry mouth. 

But beyond the mint, fruit, or cinnamon flavors lurks a potential health hazard that few people are aware of.

Chewing just a single piece of gum can release up to 3,000 plastic particles into your mouth! I’m talking about the same plastic that’s used to make plastic water bottles, clothing, grocery bags, foam packaging, and even vehicle tires!

And get this—you don’t even have to chew for very long to ingest a tsunami of plastic. Research has shown that most of the plastic surge from gum occurs within the first eight minutes of popping a stick in your mouth.

Of course, gum manufacturers don’t necessarily want you to know this, so they typically list “gum base” as an ingredient without telling you that “gum base” includes oil-based synthetic rubbers like those used in car tires, plastic bags and other products.

Microplastic exposure can affect your respiratory, digestive, immune, and reproductive health, and they have been shown to be especially dangerous to your brain!

In fact, when analyzing brain tissue from people with dementia, researchers observed higher concentrations of microplastics compared to brain tissues from individuals without dementia.

Freshen your breath safely and naturally!

The key to eliminating bad breath is not to chew mint flavored plastic, er, I mean gum, but to figure out what might be behind “seeing your breath in the summer” and doing something about it!

Here are some measures you can try:

Start with your mouth

Poor oral health is the most common cause of bad breath. So, it only follows that the first place to start in your fight against halitosis is with a dental check-up. Your dentist can determine if you have a tooth problem, gingivitis, or periodontal disease, and set up the proper treatment plan.

You also must do your part too—and that means regular brushing and flossing!

Most people are OK with brushing but roll their eyes when it comes to flossing.

Get over that. Flossing is crucial to tooth and gum health, and it doesn’t even take that long. I have timed myself and it takes me about a minute and 11 seconds to do my entire mouth.

Also, consider using a power toothbrush—they really do make a significant difference in the level of cleaning from your brushing efforts.

In addition, you should consider removing any amalgam (silver) fillings you may have and replacing them with composites, and here’s why:

Contrary to what most people believe, “silver” amalgam fillings are only silver in color—they actually contain 50 percent mercury.

Mercury is a potent neurotoxin which not only can cause brain damage but can also make you more susceptible to periodontal disease—which causes bad breath!

Studies have shown that once amalgam fillings are removed, several mouth problems can be eliminated or vastly improved! 

The key here is you need to locate a dentist who is experienced in amalgam removal. Check out mercury-free dentists in your area.

Nourish your teeth

The health of ALL your body parts (including your teeth!) depends on you getting a consistent supply of essential vitamins and minerals.

There’s no way around it—you cannot exist on processed junk, fast food and soda and expect to have healthy teeth and gums.

Concentrate on eating REAL foods—meats, poultry, wild-caught fish, fresh vegetables and fruits, eggs, full-fat dairy, whole grains and healthy fats like butter and olive oil. Ditch the processed garbage and drive by the drive-thru.

Consider any ENT issues

If you get repeated sore throats, strep throat, tonsillitis or sinus infections, it’s a good idea to get checked out by an ENT (ear, nose and throat) doctor just to make sure there are no problems brewing. Respiratory issues are a common culprit behind bad breath. 

Explore your southern hemisphere

H. pylori infection, low stomach acid, and pancreatic insufficiency can ALL cause halitosis.

If you suspect any of these may be an issue for you, see your doctor and get the appropriate tests. Hint: if you regularly suffer from bloating, acid reflux, belching, gas and burping, it’s pretty likely you have some kind of digestive issue going on.

If you feel you are running low on stomach acid or pancreatic enzymes, a complete digestive enzyme formula like Digestizol Max can be a Godsend and support your body where it may be lacking.

Digestizol Max’s thorough blend of 15 plant-derived enzymes can help your body carry out digestion like it’s supposed to…and that means goodbye gas, bloating and heartburn for you! 

Also, if H. pylori infection is an issue for you, the mastic gum in our Gastro BeCalm Blend has been shown to counteract and even kill H. Pylori! Plus, the other herbs in the formula (licorice root, ginger and marshmallow root) help ease occasional indigestion and quiet a cranky GI tract.

“Escupir su chicle” and instead get to the bottom of what’s causing your bad breath now! 

To your health,

Sherry Brescia