Why soccer players chew gum during a match

Ecuadorian striker Jeremy Sarmiento chewed gum during a match at the 2022 World Cup. We wondered why. We talked to the soccer coach and the doctor about it.

Slava Katuev

Head coach of Kidian soccer school

There are many such examples. Sir Alex Ferguson, the legendary coach, the most decorated coach in the history of British soccer, used to chew gum during matches. It is said that during his entire career at the Manchester club he used about 3 thousand packs. And there are several explanations for this.

The simplest explanation of the habit: to fight stress and concentrate on the game. Japanese scientists in their work published in the journal Brain and Cognition, noted that chewing gum increases the level of arousal and alertness.

This leads to improved cognitive performance. It also increases heart rate and improves intestinal motility.

There is also a theory that many soccer players chew gum before and during the game in order to prevent dry mouth. This is because chewing gum mechanically irritates the receptors, causing the body to produce more saliva.

Plus when you chew gum, it is much easier to breathe through the nose, which helps stabilize the heart rate.

In the previous article we told you about the dangers of chewing gum while playing sports.

But doctors say that sports with chewing gum in the mouth is not safe, because there is a risk of choking. In addition, constant chewing disrupts breathing, and excess salivation can lead to dehydration.

D., doctor of integrative, preventive and conventional medicine, nutritionist

How long can I chew chewing gum and is it dangerous to my health if used regularly?

For hygiene purposes, it is optimal to chew gum for no longer than 15 minutes after a meal, but only if it is not possible to use a toothbrush or rinse your mouth. While this is not a substitute for a full-blown brushing, it can help clean bits of food out of your mouth and prevent tooth decay.

Brushing or breakfast – in what order should you do your morning routine? Read more about it at the link.

However, if you chew gum longer than normal on a daily basis, you can provoke the development of various syndromes.

Chewing gum can provoke the development of jaw joint dysfunction. Chewing gum for one or two hours a day can cause muscle pain, while chewing for three hours can cause joint pain.
An hour after using chewing gum, a headache may occur. This is due to excessive strain on the chewing muscles and temporomandibular joint. This occurs more often in people with a tendency to migraines.

Due to the constant release of saliva and enzymes without food intake when chewing gum, malfunctions in the GI tract are possible – the digestive tract is deceived for a long time, waiting for food.
Chewing gum can increase appetite. Constant chewing (two or more hours a day) gives a signal to the body that food will soon arrive. Digestive juices and enzymes are then produced to help digest the food.
Gummies containing sugar erode tooth enamel. This is affected by dyes, preservatives and stabilizers. Frequent chewing also increases the risk of tooth decay.

Read about other foods that can ruin your teeth here.

It is important to choose chewing gum without sugar and with as natural a composition as possible. Give preference to chewing gummies or natural gummies based on propolis (bee glue).

Use the product only as an auxiliary means to maintain the cleanliness of teeth. In case of abuse and unpleasant jaw, stomach or headache sensations due to it, it is worth reconsidering the habit and possibly consult a dentist.