Researchers at UCLA found that chewing gum – even gum labeled "natural" – can release hundreds to thousands of microplastics per piece into saliva and potentially be ingested.

The release of microplastics is the result of the abrasive mechanics of chewing, which detaches the particles from the gum, rather than from the saliva breaking them down.

Chewing gum releases hundreds to thousands of microplastics into your mouth, a new study suggests. Chewing gum's base ingredient is synthetic rubber, which is a type of plastic. A stick of gum is ...

Chewing gum can release hundreds to thousands of microplastics into the saliva that may be ingested, a new study found. Counter/Getty Images This article originally appeared on Healthline ...

Not to burst your bubble, but your gum might be packed with plastic. A new study found that chewing a single piece releases ...

Chewing Gum Releases Microplastics Into Your Mouth, Scientists Warn. Published Mar 25, 2025 at 5:00 AM EDT Updated Mar 25, 2025 at 9:05 AM EDT. By .

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A recent study found that chewing gum can release up to thousands of microplastics per piece and potentially be ingested, according to researchers.

Extrapolating this further, a 2–6 gram piece of gum may release as many as 3,000 microplastics. Multiply that by the average amount of gum chewed annually, that you could be looking at around ...

Chewing gum releases microplastics into mouth, say researchers. 25-Mar-2025, 18:30. 25 Mar 2025, 18:30. AFP. Share. Scientists also warn of the pollution created by the rubber-based sweet.

The study estimated that an average person chewing 160 to 180 sticks of gum per year could ingest approximately 30,000 microplastics, significantly increasing the overall annual intake of ...

Chewing gum can release hundreds to thousands of microplastics into the saliva that may be ingested, a new study found. Counter/Getty Images This article originally appeared on Healthline ...