I was on a plane for 2 1/2 yesterday and the guy sitting next to me chewed gum the whole way. So for 2 1/2 hours I had this jaw flapping motion in my peripheral vision, which I have to say I found annoying. Now, I’ve never been much of a gum person, and can’t conceive of a reason why I’d keep chewing for over 2 hours.
Assuming the gum was not a nicotine replacement, and served no pure medicinal purpose, my question to the gum chewers of the world is, “Why do you do it”.
M
It beats grinding my teeth.
It’s soothing.
I also try not to do it when others are around.
I always chew gum on planes to help with pain in my ears from altitude changes. Helps them pop.
I’m on heavy-duty allergy medication, which has the unfortunate side effect of chronic dry mouth. My mouth gets so dry that my throat will at times stick to itself when I try to swallow. This also presents dental problems, because if there’s not enough saliva to wash away food particles and acids, cavities can occur much easier than in someone with normal salivary flow.
To help prevent this, my dentist recommended I chew sugarless gum (he recommended Trident) after meals. It helps stimulate the saliva glands. Before I had this issue, I never chewed gum. So, my gum chewing does serve a medical (if not medicinal) purpose.
I chew gum when I’m driving. Gives me something to do other than snack the whole way, and it keeps me awake. Also, the spearmint kind makes my bottled water taste cold even when it’s not.
It satisfies my craving for something sweet. Keeps me from eating the 500 calorie cookie.
Another vote for keeping my ears from feeling like they’re going to explode, and to calm my nerves when I’m crammed into a small space with lots of other people for a long time (more than 10 min.) and I can’t get up and move around.
Filthy, disgusting habit.
I know a worse one. (Really, there’s a guy at my workplace who dips.)
I like chewing (sugarless) gum because it tastes good, and it really does help a bit with stress.
Chewing keeps me from falling asleep at work. And I also how it takes the yucky taste out of my mouth.
I’m addicted to gum.
It gives you something to do. A lot of the newer gum has teeth whitening power and it helps with overall dental health. If you chew it enough, it will alter your face shape usually in a positive way because it strengthens certain facial muscles.
So when you chew gum, do you do it for like, hours on end? Doesn’t it get monotonous? Doesn’t your jaw ache? Don’t you simply forget to do the up-down motion from time to time?
It can become very sore if you chew a large wad of gum for over 3 hours or so. Doing it at that level seems to work out your facial muscles though. However, I have woken up a few times after doing that where I could barely open my mouth which is very scary.
Me too, I do it to avoid the munchies at work. I like the “5” gum, mainly the cinnamon and peppermint, very strong flavor. I generally don’t chew it for more than an hour.
Uhh…breath freshening on the go?
Thought that was the main point, at least for mint/cinnamon, etc flavored gum?
I sit there and chew gum when I get off from work to help wind down, because otherwise I indulge in “stress eating” and end up eating a whole box of sourdough pretzels. Sugar-free gum is easier on the waistline and the pocketbook.
Dry mouth, breath freshening, to distract me from snacking. And on planes, definitely to avoid pressure on the ear drums.
This reminds me of the song “Cell Block Tango” from Chicago, actually.
But yeah, in the case of a long plane ride, it definitely helps with pressure build up in the ears and sinuses, from what I’ve been told, and can pass the time. Unfortunately, like any other number of ways to pass the time, it can annoy the hell out of other people.
Yum!
As soon as you have chewed it a little bit, toss a bit of crushed ice in your mouth and chew it together with the gum: you will get an awesome blast of flavor.
I don’t know if it works with their original flavor, but the sour apple one tastes great this way.
Oh yes… If you have a pack in your pocket, remember that the foil will set off airport metal detectors and you will get singled out for closer examination (at least I did).
What he said.