Gum, Gum, Gum...

If you’re trying to lower stress in your life, stock up on gum. The evidence in support of gum as a stress reducer just keeps coming.

In 2006, a study by the Wrigley Science Institute showed that gum chewers stay more relaxed during everyday stress.

In 2007, Wrigley experts found that chewing gum can improve focus and concentration. Students who chewed gum before and during exams received better scores than those who didn’t.

At this point, you’re probably thinking, Well of course they did. Wrigley wants people to buy more gum. But wait, there’s more.

In a recent study at Swinburne University in Australia, people who chewed gum during a stress test—not the treadmill kind, but one where they had to multitask—had 16% less of the stress hormone cortisol in their saliva than those who didn’t.

Okay, so Wrigley helped fund this last study, but who else is going to shell out money for gum research? Certainly not your dentist. Chew some sugarless gum today and lower your stress, the gum maker’s and your dentist’s.