Super Age: Chewing Gum Might Be Dosing You With Microplastics

 

Chewing Gum Might Be Dosing You With Microplastics


Here’s a stat that might stay with you longer than that last piece of minty chew: one piece of gum can release up to 3,000 microplastic particles—most of them in the first eight minutes.

That insight comes from a pilot study presented at the American Chemical Society in March 2025. Researchers revealed that commercial gum doesn’t just freshen your breath. It may be quietly dosing your mouth with microscopic plastic particles.

The Ingredients You’re Not Told About

Most of us chew gum without thinking twice. But most commercial gum bases are made from synthetic plastic—the same types of polymers used in plastic bottles and food wrappers. These include polyolefins, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrenes, and polyacrylamides. Even gums labeled “natural” released comparable levels of microplastics when tested.

The bigger issue? “Gum base” is an unregulated term. Manufacturers aren’t required to disclose exactly what’s inside. That means you could be chewing on a cocktail of industrial polymers with no real insight into how they affect your health over time.

Note:  The above comes directly from their website.  Click here to read more.

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