Is there a connection between chewing gum and stomach acid?
There is no evidence that saliva in itself stimulates gastric juices in the stomach. It is generally accepted that only a bolus will activate gastric juices. During the chewing of gum there is a sharp rise in saliva volume; saliva contains bicarbonate and when swallowed, an acid neutralising effect occurs in the stomach. Research on this issue has been undertaken on patients with a duodenal ulcer, or X-ray negative dyspepsia and it was concluded that even for these people gum chewing is harmless. If this potentially sensitive group can chew gum without exacerbating their stomach problems, then it would seem reasonable to conclude that chewing gum will not cause stomach problems with anyone else.
