I Have A Chewing Gum Problem
December 13th, 2004
Someone not-so-famous once told me, “If you’re not addicted to drugs or alcohol or gambling or sex or washing your hands a thousand times a day or switching the lightswitches on and off and on and off or killing people or making your kids watch those freaky-looking Teletubbies or doing anything resembling a criminal act — anything you do is probably pretty much okay.”
They obviously never met anyone like me, who has a chewing gum problem.
No matter what I do, I cannot convince myself that one piece of gum is enough. The “chewing gum enough-factor” which I have dubbed it for lack of a better one and because I recently axed “the factor that involves chewing gum not being enough just so you know” and C.G.F for short — it keeps my inner-instinct from being satisfied with just one piece, and here is why:
1. Size. Any piece of chewing gum, even the Orbit brand which is longer than previously shrimpy versions of Trident and such, is still not enough. If I can’t fill up the pouch under my lower lip or the area above my teeth against my gums, it is not enough. If a piece of gum, after losing its flavor, seems as small as a piece of food remnant left in my mouth from an earlier meal - it is just not going to work for me.
2. Flavor. One piece of gum has an exponentially low flavor threshhold. One piece of gum’s flavor lasts about as long as it took me to type this sentence.
3. Chew. One piece of gum will not give my chewing muscles the workout they need. Have you ever chewed a whole pack of gum at once for 30 minutes straight, stopped chewing, and then felt the side of your cheeks (the muscles) bulging? That’s a true workout. You’re basically burning off the calories of the piece of gum by giving those muscles a well-needed workout. But with a piece of gum, you might as well be lifting a 5 lb. weight with your tongue, because it’s girly-man stuff.
4. Sarcasm. While chewing one piece of gum, dialogue like “yeah, whatever”, “sure, dude” and “you wish” do not come across as sarcastic. That is because your piece of gum is so small, no one will ever know that you are chewing while talking to them, which is supposed to communicate that you could care less about them. Five pieces in a massive chewy ball in the side of your cheek, while you say the above statements, well — that works. One piece? You’re selling yourself short.
5. Intelligence. If someone asks you a question while chewing ONE piece of gum, while in mid-chew, it takes very little to stop chewing, move the gum to inside your cheek, and answer. But what if you’re chewing a whole big ball of the stuff? And THEN someone asks you a question? It will take you a good 30 seconds to get your mouth free of gum (whilest moving it to the side) to answer the question vocally. This will make you appear smarter. Why? Because you’re taking 30 seconds to think of the answer. If you are chewing one piece of gum and you answer quickly, whether you’re right or wrong — the asker will think you are wrong.
Like I said, I have a chewing gum problem.
I can go through a pack of gum (and not a 5 piece pack but a 14-pack Orbit extended-length pack) in about 20 minutes by chewing at least 2-3 pieces at a time. Sometimes, when I’m going on a very long drive I may actually pack about 6-7 in my mouth for an extra burst of flavorful-excitement. The more gum I can pack in and chew with skill — the more confident I am in myself, my chewing skillz and my bulging cheek-muscles’ ability to handle the job.
Sure, some people have called it a compulsion. But a compulsion is only a compulsion when very few people share the same compulsion. This world is a world where people are obsessed with chewing gum. They eat it all day long. They eat in inbetween meals. They eat it on the phone, in the car, at the gym, while laying in bed, in school, at depositions and while they’re having sex.
Chewing gum is not just my problem. It is everyone’s problem.
So, find me a person who chews one piece of gum at a time and I’ll give you someone who is cut-off, isolated, considered to be a flat-cheek muscled fast-answerer who is often answering questions they don’t know the answers to and looked down upon because of it.
For the reality is this — what some people may consider a problem…may in fact be, a blessing.
There’s something so wrong, yet, so right about this.
Comment by That Guy — December 13, 2004 @ 1:30 pm
Bitch, that is MY addiction. I buy Bubblemint Orbit in three packs almost every day. Right before bed, after brushing my teeth, I pop two pieces in my mouth. I am a regular Violet Beauregard.
Do you spit or swallow?
Comment by Danielle — December 13, 2004 @ 2:09 pm
All about the spittage. What about you, Danielle?
Comment by Pauly D — December 13, 2004 @ 2:11 pm
Mmmmmm, your breath smells GOOD.
Comment by Dawn (webmiztris) — December 13, 2004 @ 4:51 pm
I, in fact, do swallow.
Commence preteen giggling now.
Comment by Danielle — December 14, 2004 @ 1:06 pm
Wow, same here. I have an obsessive compulsive behavior when it comes to snatching the gum off the endcaps whenever I’m checking out at the store.
My wife rolls her eyes, mostly because I go through about 15 packs a week it seems. Orbit, Trident, you name it, it all tastes great and keeps my breath in tact.
Paul, you need to start an AAA-like group for Chewing gum chewers or something.
Comment by kartooner — December 15, 2004 @ 8:17 pm
Only if the AAA-like group got free packs of gum.
Comment by Pauly D — December 15, 2004 @ 8:58 pm
I am the same way and it just so happens I chew Orbit. I am very concious of my weight and wondered if you have noticed any weight gain from chewing so much gum?
Comment by Aimee — December 16, 2004 @ 7:34 am
i can not have enough gum. My friends aunt works at a trident factory, and you will not belive how much gum he has. It is absolutley crazy. During science we chew as much gum as we can without slobering
Comment by Jimmy joe joe shabadoo — March 21, 2005 @ 3:27 pm
I thought I was alone in this world with my addiction! I go through so many packs a day! I’ve tried to control myself…but i just can’t! So many times, my mouth is stale and nasty, and I need the sweet satisfying piece of gum…preferrably Bubblemint Orbit. If I chew 3 packs in one day, it is considered a good day. But that is rare. I usually chew much more. Although my addiction is costly, and attracts criticism from my parents, gum is simply to good to stop, and it’s at least good to know there are others out there who chew as much as me!!
Comment by Bubble Baby — April 23, 2006 @ 2:25 pm
I too have this addiction to chewing large amounts of gum. I think it’s causing me to gain weight though. Has anyone cut back and noticed a change in weight?
Comment by Liz — May 2, 2006 @ 6:39 am
Hello,
I also love to chew.In the U.S. I loved those Big Red multipacks! Spain was great for every fruity flavour combo under the sun, and France has a great range called H****wood (I’m sure you can use your imagination) that does fruity, and minty flavours and one brand even does gum pellets with liquid centres!
I get through at least two packs a day which doesn’t go unnoticed by family and friends. Oh well, it’s my jaw! I am well aware that since I stopped smoking, one addiction has replaced another, but, hey, I guess it’s a healthier addiction.. (if that’s possible) and who knows, maybe I’ll migrate to lettuce leaves next!
Comment by missUK_gumaddict — May 9, 2006 @ 1:17 pm
i had refused buying the multi-packs. i couldn’t imagine life with or without it. i knew i needed to stop. Ten months ago, i got off the gum. I white-knuckled my cravings… When people ask if i wanted a piece… i didn’t just say no. i replied, “no…(aaaaargh) I am off the gum.” Saying no, felt too distant- i couln’t pretend that we never had a relationship. Just one month ago, i found myself standing in the Kum n Go, looking at all the tantalizing new flavors- watermelon sugar-free, lemon ice, strawberry-lime… and i thought to myself, “one pack won’t kill ya. you’ve been off the gum for 9 months, you’ll be fine.” I am back on the gum now. i chew as often and as much as i can… because that’s my life. This isn’t merely a compulsive activity, this is a part of my identity. i must embrace it. i have to.
Comment by hyperware — June 21, 2006 @ 8:35 am
I am completely and totally addicted to gum. I have a love hate relationship with gum. I hate that I chew a whole pack in 10 minutes and then I spit the whole mass out swearing to myself i will never chew again. But I must love it because I end up at the gum counter at the local gas station wondering which kind I am most able to control. “Surely I can not chew a whole pack of cinnamon at once.” Sure enough, the pack is gone. Defeated, I come to the conclusion that I should just buy the pack that will satisfy me the most and go to town. Should I embrace it or try to hopelessly kick it?
Comment by chewy — June 22, 2006 @ 2:27 pm
wow, you do have a gum chewing problem. i’m a smoker (ex-smoker sort of) and i chew gum… and everything else i can get my hands on. like, sunflower seeds, pomegranates… anything chewy and/or with seeds that would require lots and lots of chewing. i once had a friend tell me i look like a cow i chew so much crap all day long. 3 yrs ago i got tinnitus in my right ear…i chew on my right side mostly. and now if i chew gum for too long my jaw aches which makes the tinnitus so much worse. i don’t know if it’s connected, but it could be. i still chew a lot, but not as much and the tinnitus has gotten much better… so have the headaches. nuts huh?
Comment by maharet — August 15, 2006 @ 9:45 am
I quit smoking in January. I did not gain weight, but I started my habit of GUM chewing. I chew gum constantly during my 16-20 waking hours per day. ONLY Winterfresh. About 50 sticks per day (10 packs) Used to be just 3 packs but I continue to chew more and more. i chew each piece or 2 for a short time, then start again with fresh ones. I wonder if there are any long term consequences to this behavior. Tooth decay? TMJ? Anything else? (Pancreatic dysfunction)??
OH and I can’t chew sugarless- too many side effects.
Comment by Jennifer N — August 21, 2006 @ 11:05 pm
I clearly share the same chewing gum addiction as you! Maybe we were meant to be. j/k
Comment by betsy — August 25, 2006 @ 5:56 pm
I also am addicted to chewing gum, doublemint & big red. I will chew a piece of each together and go through 20 packs a day. Has anyone out there successfully quit this habit? I would appreciate any help. Thanks
Comment by minnie13 — September 11, 2006 @ 6:16 am
The aspartame is SOOO bad for you. I am an ex-lifelong addict.
Don’t you all have diahreah (sp?) and digestive problems?
Comment by Marilyn — September 16, 2006 @ 5:41 pm
After months of searching, I have FINALLY found you! Other people who have my problem! IT IS INSANE! I cannot stop with the Orbit! I buy it in valu-paks at Costco and go thru at least 3 packs per day. My jaw muscles are sorely overdeveloped and I think I must be giving myself brain tumors. The dentist and the shrink laugh a me as if it’s not a real addiction, but I can’t afford it and I hate it! HELP! Has anyone gotten off the stuff, and if so, HOW??
Comment by Leslie — September 24, 2006 @ 6:14 pm
Thanks to all of you for your comments. I thought I was the only one in the world with this problem. I am addicted to Eclipse Peppermint chewing about 9 packs/day which is more expensive than cigarettes! I finally gave it up after my 5-year said “you have to give up the gum mom, you fart too much!!!” Well…I’m on day 11 and feel no better than day 1. I cannot go down the grocery aisle where the gum is! This is way worse than cigarettes. I have a constant headache and stomach pain. What is in that stuff?!!!
Comment by Angie — October 18, 2006 @ 7:18 pm
for the sugarless chewers, there is a reaso why we are addicted and the addiction increases…the fake sugars the companies put into the gum increases our threshold for sweetness, so things that we formerly thought of as sweet are no longer as sweet to us, so it requires sweeter things to satisfy our sweet tooth - this can only be satisfied by more gum. it’s a pretty vicious circle, but if you break the habit for 3 days it should be easier to stick with it. I ca easily chew 6 packs a day, it worries me, I keep telling myself I will quit, but I have trained myself to basically always have something in my nouth and if it’s not gum, it’s food and I do not want to gain weight. I used to be very heavy and I think chewing gum instead of eating when i wasn’t hungry, but just wated something in my mouth helped me loose weight.
Comment by Jon — October 20, 2006 @ 7:13 am
Yep! If it’s not gum, it’s food or cigarettes, and the gum seems the lesser of three evils…although in the exorbitant amounts I’m putting away each day, including as I write this, I think the cancerous tumors are well on their way to forming. There’s got to be a detrimental physical consequence to all this artificial sweetener. It’s worse than nicotine. I tried going one day without gum - I made it only till about 5 pm and I was practically shaking with withdrawal…I could think of nothing else until I got some Orbit. Maybe I should be committed.
Comment by Leslie — October 21, 2006 @ 11:05 am
I am very addicted to gum. I was addicted to Nicotine gum for over 3 years, now I am addicted to regular gum for the past few months. I actually like the ones that are not sweet, but they are impossible to find. I don’t like mint so it is tough to find one that I really like. Everyday I try to find the right one by chewing about 30-90 pieces every day! It seems to be getting worse instead of better. It almost makes me want to go back to the Nicotine gum because I still crave its taste and texture. Gosh, I am addicted to gum:) Oh well, it could be worse and has been.
Comment by zam — October 26, 2006 @ 7:18 pm
I am so excited reading this, I really thought that I was the only person with a gum addiction. While I usually only chew one piece at a time, i also go through 3-5 packs a day, of Orbit Crystal Mint, used to be Wintermint but the new Crystal Mint is just so awesome. I love any kind of Orbit though. I even put a new piece of gum in my mouth as I take out the old one everytime. I have even perfected the art of sleeping with gum in my mouth, which I do not do that often, but often enough. Mainly after drinking all night but whatever haha. I can not think of one time since 3rd grade, that I did not have at least one pack of gum in my pocketbook at a time. If I do not have gum, or I am running low, all I can think about is getting another pack of gum. It is horribly costly though, I would love to figure out how much money I’ve spent over the years on gum, knowing that fact may be my only way to kick the habit!
Comment by Karlie — November 26, 2006 @ 1:23 pm
I absolutely have a gum addiction!!! And I do not care!!! I can go thru 5 packs a day, it is my enjoyment. My fav kinds are orbit white peppermint and eclipse peppermint. I chew 2 to 3 pieces at a time until the flavor is gone then I pop afew more pieces in my mouth!!! I do not think it is a serious addiction like drugs, cigarettes or alchohal, so I will keep doing it!!!!
Comment by Lisa — December 2, 2006 @ 6:55 pm
PLEASE is there a way to qit? I chew about 50 sticks of winterfresh per day. I PANIC SO BAD if i am on last piece…. til i secure my next 5 packs. what is step one to quitting>>??
Comment by jenny — December 3, 2006 @ 9:44 pm
hi name is jenna and i am about to be 13,I love gum too, just like you do.my problem isn’t that im addicted to gum i can spit it out every now and then,but the problem is i have braces and the gum gets stuck in my braces.but anyways why dont you try this to see if it will help you with your problem.try just buying 1 pack of gum once a week and make sure the pack has 14 pieces of gum in it,and chew 2 pieces a day for 1 week and the when your done with that pack it will be a new week and you can buy a nother pack.
Comment by jenna — December 10, 2006 @ 5:59 am
I am my first day of quitting Extra sugarfree gum I have had a serious addiction to this since I stoped smoking a year ago I have been getting bad side effects of dry and very sore throat if I can beat Nicotine I am not going to let this beat me
Comment by Sue — December 31, 2006 @ 12:07 pm
I am addicted to gum too! Trident Watermelon Twist! I chew between 15-20 pieces of gum a day. I just keep popping pieces in my mouth at work, it helps me concentrate. I have noticed that it does give you gas though. Also, I read that people who are excessive gum chewers possible have an oral fixation and constantly have to have something in their mouths. So, if it wasn’t gum it would be something else.
Comment by sarah — January 9, 2007 @ 3:51 pm
This is my life right here.
Comment by Chelsea — January 10, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
I am a gum addict…ok, I said it. I chew 2 double packs daily and crave more at night. I believe it the whole oral fixation since if I’m not chewing gum, I’m eating or drinking. I CAN’T believe that I’m not overweight but I know that the sugar alcohols are a serious problem- sometimes I have dizzy spells and I definitely think my digestive system is screwed up. Now that we have all made our confessions- HOW DO WE STOP THE MADNESS?????
Comment by Jill — January 11, 2007 @ 11:24 am
Glad to know I’m not the only one … it’s kind of a joke among my friends and I, but I’m seriously addicted to gum! My boyfriend hates it. I am a personal trainer and train clients in 1-hr blocks, and I have to have 1-2 pieces of sugarless gum in my pocket to get me through the hour. My current addictive flavors are spearmint Altoids gum (2 pieces at a time — otherwise it’s too small ), and when that is dead (usually in 10-15 minutes), I switch to peppermint Extra. I spend something like $10 a week on gum. It’s just not right! For me, it definitely is an oral fixation thing — it helps me eat less. But honestly, sometimes I think it makes you more likely to eat, because it keeps you in the habit of chewing on something all the time! I compulsively chew gum after eating, after brushing my teeth, while running (to help keep my mouth and throat from getting painfully dry — which it does if I don’t chew gum), and even sometimes while I’m drinking hot coffee. I have digestive problems, mainly acid reflux, which I believe are exacerbated by all the chewing. It really sucks, but I worry about my breath (I work in close proximity with my clients, and have to talk a lot and loudly for my job), and I’m definitely addicted to the taste, the feeling of chewing, and the salivating. I think my mouth gets dry when I don’t chew because my salivary glands are used to being overworked. Not good!
Comment by Janna — January 13, 2007 @ 1:25 pm
I can’t stop chewing Trident Tropical Twist and Orbit Sweet Mint. Somebody f’ing help me.
Comment by Chris — January 20, 2007 @ 4:37 pm
I think they put crack in the Orbit. Once you start chewing it, it’s impossible to stop. I need to be put into rehab for the damn gum. Seriously!
Comment by Leslie — January 20, 2007 @ 9:27 pm
I chew 3-5 packs a day of Extra Spearment or Winterfresh… or really, ANY sugarfree gum will do.
My doctor laughed at me, when I asked if he had heard anything about chewing gum being bad for you. But, only since chewing so much gum, have I had digestion problems, acid reflux and/or dizziness from not being able to get a good, deep breath. Add to that…I’ve gained 15 pounds in 14 months! Any ideas on how to “Stop the madness!” will be much appreciated.
Comment by Joyce — January 23, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
I have just dicovered the 2 -3 pack a day addiction I have had with Juicy Fruit is giving me diarrhea! Could this be so???
Comment by Nicole — January 24, 2007 @ 1:43 pm
I also have been chewing probably 200 pieces of the double bubble bubble gum a day. Im talking 2 large bags of it a day. I do this instead of eating hoping to lose weight. I thought just keep gum in
my mouth all day and not eat anything. I have gain weight with this
method so dont try it. I guess all the sugar in the gum caught up with me. I have been trying to stop and just cant. I wake up thinking wheres my bag of gum. any help or request I really need it.
Comment by cindy — January 28, 2007 @ 4:25 pm
i also have an addiction to winterfresh.. it used to be the spearmint extra gum.. i chew 2 packs a day.. at least.. and i dont just chew it i end up swallowing it.. i am glad to find that others have this problem also.. i really really really need help!!
Comment by Mandy — January 30, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
This site has made me feel somewhat normal with my crazy gum addiction. It’s absolutely disabling! I stay home with gas so often! I chew sugar less orbit & trident, and end up with cramps & bloated beyond belief. I CHEW 3-4 pieces at a time & spit out the juice into a cup! SO EMBARASSING!! I once quit for about 3 weeks… TRUE that if you make it through the first 3 days, you’re kinda ok… I believe the artificial sweetners are addicting. FOR SURE!! But I also have an oral fixation. If not gum, it’s food. I gain weight from gum & I gain wieght when I try to stop, because I eat around the clock! WHAT DO DO!? Where are the answers on this page!??? EXPENSIVE HABIT, BY THE WAY! I Stay home because of the digestive side effects!
Comment by Mary — February 10, 2007 @ 1:26 am
im 15 and addicted to chewing gum is it soo bad? 30 packets last me about a week, and im sort of getting worried!! Does anyone know if it links with keratotis pilaris? And if not what serious side effects does it have? is stomach cancer?
Comment by tess — February 18, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
I joined a 12 step program for food addiction 15 months ago and easily dropped 80 pounds. But I used sugar free gum as a crutch and it got progressively worse…I was stocking up on dozens of packs at a time, and then stuffing sticks in my mouth for a few minutes, then reaching for more. Last night I realized it was getting way out of hand and I decided to put the gum down and use the same tools that worked for me with food to get free. I really felt like an idiot until I read this blog and comments. The beauty of the WWW is that we never have to think that we are the only ones anymore. I can do this. I don’t want to be a slave to putting things in my mouth.
Comment by Kate Martin — February 20, 2007 @ 1:10 pm
Wow. I, like many of our brethren here, will chew multiple sticks of gum until it is all gone… But for some reason I love swallowing it! *sigh* but today I had such an AWFUL stomachache, it’s still a hurting right now. Could that be because the acid secreted in my stomach burned through the mucous layer? Or am I just making things up in my head? Anyways, nice to see we share a common addiction -_-
Comment by Willy — February 24, 2007 @ 12:54 am
i have a chewing gum problem. i LOVE excel, either the blue, green, or grey packs. I can finish a pack in a day by myself but i can only chew 1 piece at a time, and on occasion maybe 2, but thats it. is this bad or something? becuz i chew gum with aspartame
and i have been told to aviod this “like the plague”. so umm yeah, am i going to die?
Comment by Nana — March 16, 2007 @ 8:18 pm
this is so rad! who knew so many people we’re gum addicts?! i’ve been chewing gum for 2 and a half years straight now. well, i think i missed 2 days in there cuz i had the flu. but for about 1,093 days i’ve had gum in my mouth, and not just one piece, i’m talkin at least 2 or 3. my fav is bubble gum. i love blowing bubbles and popping my gum. my friends mom always know when i’m at his house cuz of the gum-popping. haha i loove it! just in the time it took me to read this whole page, i popped in like 3 pieces! my jaw gets a little sore, but it keeps me busy!
Comment by Brittany — March 19, 2007 @ 8:51 pm
I joke that I’m a “chain chewer” of gum, but it’s all too true! So pleased to have stumbled upon others that know what I mean! My suspicions about the downsides: (1) like someone else said, you get used to a huge sweet flavor rush that raises your threshold for satisfaction, and this tolerance (as in any addiction!) creates a vicious cycle of needing more, (2) the sugar-alcohols in sugarless gum can cause notable gastrointestinal discomfort and (3) constant chewing has made me feel twitchy if there isn’t SOMETHING in my mouth- I nosh on snacks like a fiend if I don’t have gum. Bad habits, all! (she says while reaching for a luscious piece of Orbit…)
Comment by Mary — March 22, 2007 @ 8:55 pm
I love the Internet. Only here could you find so many others just like yourself. I too quit smoking and now soooooo addicted to chewing gum. Aaarrghh. I have quit alcohol, all mind altering drugs, cigarettes, and now I have to quit gum. LOL
Comment by Mary — April 5, 2007 @ 7:20 pm
I too have a recently acquired gum addiction. I buy the bottle of 40 dentyne Ic blast (Wild Winter flavour with the liquid centre) and go through the bottle in about 2 days. I really crave it and only keep a piece in my mouth for about 2 minutes before spitting it out and getting another. Now all the similar comments I’ve read so far just say this same thing about being addicted. Does anyone have any constructive ways to quit? Please tell us!
Comment by chrisdefur — April 12, 2007 @ 2:14 pm
Oh my gosh! I will adimt it, I too am additcted to gum! I go through at least a pack of Orbit a day! I’m so relieved I’m not alone!
I treid to quit…only to return to my chain chewing habit. Is there hope for us?
Comment by Jenna — April 12, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
Oh my!!!! Finally I have found others with my same addiction. Today I absolutely have to go cold turkey off of bubble gum. I can not chew the sugar free crap because it gives me severe cramps and gas…but eh sugar has made me gain 10 pounds in 4 months. I chew for emotional reasons…it helps me numb out stress. Also, when I was a child I had some very invasive tests done to me that caused me great pain and emotional scars. The nurse gave me bubble gum to soothe me..hense my addiction. Ugh!
Anyhow, thanks for all of your comments..it makes me feel not alone.
Wish me luck though…as today I am giving it up…hehe, we’ll see. I can not stand looking at my fatness anymore.
Comment by Chewey — April 14, 2007 @ 12:56 pm
I’ve been chewing about 2 1/2 packs of Orbit a day for some two months now, and I’ve actually lost weight.
Although sometimes I have trouble urinating. Anyone else have this problem?
Comment by Mike — April 18, 2007 @ 7:38 pm
Hey Mike, Orbit is a sugar free gum and it can cause a laxitive effect if you chew too much of it. This is due to the sugar alcohols that are used as the top ingredients. I find Sorbitol to be the worst offender. As for water retention, I have also experienced that phenomenon from sugar free gum, as well as sugared gum. I think that any sugars, whether they are made from the real thing or from derivitives, can cause the body to retain fluid. It’s not your imagination. After I would chew a few packs of sugarfree gum I would notice water retention in my face, and in my fingers. Strange! I switched to regular gum after I began to have way too many negative effects from sugarfree stuff. The problem is, the difference in calories is quite significant. Bet of luck to you.
On a positive note, I now have 10 days of freedom from my chewing obsession. 20 more to go to break the habit!
Ms Chewey
Comment by Chewey — April 23, 2007 @ 7:43 pm
Comrades! I found this site when searching for ways to get off the gum. I quit a 23 year smoking habit about 4 1/2 years ago. Before that I never chewed gum. Hated to chew gum, which is strange because at the time I was over 100 lbs overweight, and had been for years. I must have liked chewing something - ha ha. Well, that and I drank buckets of regular soda a day. Ok, so I quit smoking, I just turned 40, I’m 265 lbs. Something’s gotta give, man. Joined a 12 step for food addiction. Lost 120 lbs in about 14 months. I was kicking ass and taking names. Somewhere along the line I picked up the gum. Hated chewing, but that flavor burst to an addict, oh yea baby. When you have to weigh and measure your food and report what your going to eat and not go 1/8 of an ounce over that to maintain sobriety, then some days that gum was my lover/enemy. Yeah I was up to 5 packs and the worst gas and stomache aches ever. I got on the diet soda as well. I was able to kick the habit for a month here, a week there, but nothing long term. I had a relapse about 1 1/2 years ago. Quickly put on 50 lbs. even while on the gum. It doesn’t stop the binges. Now the binges have somewhat subsided. I’ve been able to maintain one peice at a time most days, so I’m down to under 2 large packs a day. That was the hardest part. Still had some of the gas. And the addict in me just thinks, well, if you chew more gum it will push those big ole painful gas bubbles out faster. It’s a sickness, man! Screw suing McDonalds for getting fat, I say let’s get the Wrigleys and Tridents for the social isolation due to deadly farts and all the painful times I’ve chomped down on the gum only to bite my tongue.
Fraud would say we never got out of our oral stage. I agree. At 44 if no gum is around, I’ll suck my thumb to avoid gaining more weight.
Comment by Lynn — April 23, 2007 @ 9:42 pm
Welcome Ms Lynn, you are hilarious! You should write your own column or blog!
Yeah, the oral fixation is crazy….It’s a known fact that gum chewing relieves anxiety. That is why they tell students to chew gum during exams. That sugarfree stuff really is gas producing and does make for smelly farts! LOL, I don’t know how a partner or loved one puts up with it..
I am sad to report that after 12 days sober, last night I had a huge slip/binge. I hope to get back on track today. I don’t know what the trigger was, but I have an idea. If I eat a large salad for dinner and become sickingly full, I crave the gum afterwards…I guess it helps me digest and solves the sweet tooth after eating. Tonight I will try to cut back on the bowl of salad which will leave me room for an apple afterwards…
Hope you can keep your consumption minimal..HAve you noticed that even Wrigleys sugared gum has Nutrasweet in the ingredients??? Yes, almost all gum does, as it is a flavor enhancer.
Signing off now,
Chewey.
Comment by Chewey — April 25, 2007 @ 9:29 am
lol, 3 years later - still so true. glad to know that im not the only one. i got through about 240 pieces every 3 days…trident with xylitol..mmm - i mix and match flavors…2 watermelon twist…2 tropical twist…1 cinnamon…omg awesome flavor!
Comment by Nick — April 26, 2007 @ 6:31 pm
Nick, don’t you get the “farts” from that xylitol? LOL!!!!!
Comment by Chewey — April 26, 2007 @ 9:50 pm
I can not seem to stay away from the new Trident Strawberry Fusion kind. This addiction/habit is getting ridiculous! So does anyone have any suggestions as far as quitting goes? Help!
Comment by AF — May 2, 2007 @ 7:43 am
AF, well I have thought about being Hypnotized…it works for smokers…
Part of me doesn’t want to give it up just yet….as I chew….
Comment by Chewey — May 4, 2007 @ 9:37 pm
OMG! I found you all…I am so addicted to gum. I have been chewing for 20 years, but the past 5 years since I quit smoking my chewing is out of control. Same stuff that all of you have said. I chew one piece after another after another until I’ve gone throught several BIG packs a day. My fav is Extra Winterfresh.
I hate my addiction and came here hoping to find some help to no avail. My digestive system is screwed up, my jaws hurt, my teeth are SO sensitive. The main reason I’ve decided to stop or to try to find help is because my neck muscles are starting to get really sore to the point that it hurts really bad all the time.
Comment by GiMen — May 18, 2007 @ 6:54 pm
I thought I was alone, and then my husband got addicted….I swear there must be crack in this gum. I also chew orbit citrusmint, bubblemint, lemonmint…..I was hooked on trident tropical twist for a while too. I never thought there could be side effects to gum chewing!!! Great, one more thing I have to quit. I liked being crazy rather than “addicted”….damn it.
Comment by lauren — May 19, 2007 @ 11:39 pm
So like all of you, I am addicted to chewing gum. I feel naked if I don’t have a pack of orbit/dentyne ice/trident in my purse. I know I can’t quit right now because it really helps my anxiety. What are everyone’s thoughts on the side effects of xylitol vs sorbitol etc?
I first started chewing gum to lose weight and have something sweet to eat instead of a dessert. But now I chew about 2 14-packs a day and it has become an annoying and expensive habit! It makes m e bloated and gasy and the side effects are not pleasant. Ah! I’m glad I’m not alone because my family thinks I’m crazy and I thought I was the only one with these issues.
Comment by Sarah — May 20, 2007 @ 7:49 pm
I quit smoking 17 years ago. But ever since I can remember, I love gum! I chewed it growing up, through my smoking years, and even more now that I don’t smoke! I also like to put a piece of spearmint candy in my mouth with the gum! An extra boost of flavor! I believe it is all oral fixation, and basically it is better than over-eating! But it still is unneccessary calories through the day. So I will probablynever give up this habit
Comment by Ellen Mullins — May 27, 2007 @ 10:45 am
i am so addicted to gum. i find myself chewing at most 6 packs a day(about 72 pieces) i find all the spare cash i have, run to walgreens and buy several three packs (preferably eclipse winterfrost) i need help. i can’t stop. it is a major problem. i recently read that an average american chews about 1.8 pounds of gum annually but as you can tell i am not average. how do i stop. please help. i am most worried about the costs of my addiction and medical side affects that i might not be aware of.
Comment by obsessed w/ gum — July 20, 2007 @ 6:33 pm
So how do we go about quitting? Should we try a weaning approach or just cold turkey? Thank goodness I never started smoking, I can’t even seem to shake this habit! I’m sure some would say that if gum is our biggest vice we are doing okay, but there are minor side effects (as some of you have shared) and I don’t think it’s good to be addicted to anything! Any help is appreciated! And Chewey- I probably won’t take your advice on getting hypnotized, but thanks for your efforts.
Comment by AF — July 23, 2007 @ 6:24 am
What is this really? Why are we kind of unfortunate? I have been chewing peppermint gum, and only peppermint gum constantly for three years straight. Yesterday was my first day in three years without chewing a single peice and I thought I was going to die. I have this nervous habbit of chewing gum, and I am the most nervous person you will ever meet. Do you know what that results in? YES, chewing gum constantly
Comment by Whitney — August 13, 2007 @ 12:44 am
It is an addiction. When you catch yourself jonesing for gum and rummaging your bags, pockets for any piece of gum after days of working hard at being without, ya just know. It is all of the above
compulsive, anxiety reducing, oral fixation/need, addiction,
but a HUGE HUGE part of this is aspartame/artificial sweeteners. And for what its worth, for people with eating disorders like me it leads to bingeing. In my experience, within 12 hours–massive carbohydrate cravings.
People have been asking for advice on quitting. I am doing cold turkey. A little just makes you want more. I have lasted about a week at a time and then fallen down. So far. I find it similar to caffeine addiction. Seems innocuous but just try to kick it.
Comment by maria — August 28, 2007 @ 10:27 am
I feel your pain! I too have the addiction. My poison is the orbit white winter mint gum. I got hooked when my boyfriend gave me a piece one day. i accepted it to be nice, I never really liked the stuff too much before. I popped that first piece into my mouth and it was like an explosion of wonderful flavor! The next day after dinner my boy friend offered me another piece I gratefully accepted. Boy was I happy I had another hit of this good stuff! Eventually I went out and bought my my own packs… it wasn’t long until I was buying in bulk. I started buying all the packs they had in the convenience stores. In only about a month’s time I went from never touching the stuff to chewing a few packs a day! I was spending at least $5 or more a day on gum… I just could not get enough of that good stuff! Now, six months later the gum has ruined me… Ive gained nearly ten pounds and feel horrible. My stomach hurts all the time and I just have no ambition anymore. My life has spiraled out of control to a crazily dark and lonely place since I started the habit. This isn’t something to be taken lightly… I cant stop… the gum has taken hold of me and wont let me go. If I try to kick the habit I just feel worse… please help me… I need to rid myself of this evil monkey on my back… I hope that I can stop the gum before my life really is ruined by it for good…
Comment by Jeff — September 25, 2007 @ 10:38 pm
For me this is a good news/ bad news thing…. It’s great & helpful for me to know I’m not alone with this problem, that you guys feel my pain- I swear none of my friends take me seriously about it, but it is a PRISON I cannot escape! - but on the other hand, in all of the postings thus far, I’m not finding any stories of how to quit successfully. Only laments from my fellow addicts asking for advice. Is this truly an addiction I’m going to suffer for life? Now I’m stuck on the Stride brand - I’m buying all the different flavors in bulk and chain-chew a different flavor one after the next after the next - one out, next one in- like the brain is searching for flavor novelty… well all the tasty flavors they have now make my habit worse. Trident watermelon twist, Orbit mint mojito, Stride’s forever fruit - to name but a few of my vast collection. It’s killing me man, for real. So the question: is there a way out??? WHO HAS DONE IT? Is there any hope for us???! Methadone?? Seriously.
Comment by Leslie — October 3, 2007 @ 8:50 pm
OMG, I feel like I am finally at home. I have a horrible addiction to gum chewing. I average 3 packs a day, much to my husband’s chagrin. While I chastise him for his smoking habit, I feel like a hippocrite. I can’t seem to control myself. For a while I was hooked on Jolt gum!!! Not only did I manage to hook myself even more on gum, but on caffeine as well!!! I managed to kick that one, but am stuck on Orbit again. Any kind, I am not picky. I just have to have it. My co-worker laughed at me when I told her about this website. But this is a real addiction with real side effects….There has to be a way to stop this crazy cycle. Though I am calmed by knowing there are more of you out there….
Comment by Gina — October 31, 2007 @ 10:59 am
This is incredible! I am an addict. I reside in South Africa, however, I am familiar with these brands of gum. Nonetheless, I stear as far away from the sugar as possible owing to the phenylalanine etc. That stuff just cause nothing but gastric reflux and ulcers. I started chewing gum in August last year. It was a mere two packs a day to keep me concentrating whilst studying. Eventually, I ended up buying more. Way way more!!!! I am addicted to a sugar based gum. Beechies musk flavours. These packs hold 12 chiclets each and I now climb my way through 20 of these packets a day. I cannot stop, I have gone a week at most since then without chewing but it results in a violent binge on whatever gum I can get my hands on, followed by a nasty binge on what ever I can get my hands on in the fridge. It is a prison, but at the same time a comfort. I’ve tried working out the reason behind the reason and so forth but it seems futile. In the beginning, chewing gum seemed like a great meal replacement, however, it’s now the only meal I seem to have, if even a meal!?!?! It was a means to control my appetite, but now, I’ve lost control of the meal replacement itself. I’ll eat though, but I’ll binge viciously more often than not. I have now adopted a very physical way of life. I gym twice a day, play tennis and squash and keep very active throughout the day and usually the night. What has happened now is this, I will exhaust myself and by 10PM I am ready to sleep, but no, off to the petrol station I go, and there opens the wallet to pay for the haords of chewing gum on the counter. The gum will ocassionally fill the void of emptiness but there are times where it doesn’t. Who knows. One minute up and the other down. With my training, I do my best to eat properly, but it only makes me more frustrated seeing I cannot chew the same quantities of gum and eat normal meals at the same time, especially if the gum I chew is loaded with glucose suryp. There are many factors behind my addiction and i no longer no what came when and why. I do my best to maintain a balance, but it seems impossible. Perhaps I’m asking for help, but I do know I am the only one who has the power to kick this. Advise may help, but it is my responsibilty to find an answer to this In and amongst all this, however, I have never noticed weight gain as a consequence, but my teeth have to see more and more of the dentist for a regular inspection and cleaning now. Once decay began, there was no stopping it. These days though, I try my best to keep myself extremely busy so as not to chew during the day, and seeing I cannot stop myself from chewing, I reward myself with a little gum at the end of the day. i can’t beat this, but i am doing my utmost to live with it as best I can. Perhaps my fellow addicts can find refuge in some of my solutions as to coping with the addiction. See, if you say to yourself, “no, you can’t have it”, you’re sure to fall. So, perhaps a little restriction is far less detrimental than full on prohibtion.
Comment by Karma Elcome — November 23, 2007 @ 4:50 am
i am EXACLTY like you people!i am from greece(not american sorry for my english) i am really thin and alwats try to not gain weight and be in shape but i cant stop chewing gums!i love them!
first it was just 10 pieces a day.my limit was 10.i was telling myself”no more than 10 man…thats enough!”
but now i am chewing like 2-3 packs a day and one pack here has like 15 pieces!i chew about 30 plus pieces a day and i cant stop!
my favorites are dentyne cinnamon fire and vivident fruit blast.
btw dont worry about the weight!if you chew sugarless gum you are not going to get ANY weight!
Comment by D-Effect — November 28, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
Nice to find someone as crazy as me with the whole chewing gum problem.. haha
I’m addicted to Orbit, like you wouldn’t believe. Only the winterming though.. I hate settling for other gum brands..haha. Sometimes I feel like a smoker.. How a smoker will always settle for a different cigg even though they don’t really like it..
If i don’t have any gum, I go nuts.. like an addict..
and i’ll get up right then and make a trip to the store no matter what time.. haha.
Comment by Stephanie — January 1, 2008 @ 10:15 pm
I can’t believe I found this post! We need to start a website - chewers anonymous or something. I honestly thought I was the only one.
My addiction is pretty severe. I get massive cravings for sugar gum, especially Dubble Bubble (you know, the bright pink stuff you used to get on Halloween as a kid). I go through a one-pound bag in a matter of days. It’s awful for my teeth, and the sugar is probably making me gain weight. I’ve been chewing compulsively for 5-6 years, but it’s definitely gotten worse recently.
Today has been my first day without gum in years, which is why I went searching for sites on gum addiction. I’m sweating right now, people.
Comment by Alison — January 6, 2008 @ 3:37 pm
I’m went on line last week for the first time (New Years Resolution!!) to find out what is wrong with me….and is it just me??? I too am addicted to gum. Not just any gum….DUBBLE BUBBLE. I go to Sam’s Club and purchase the 350 piece pail and start chain chewing until it is gone. (Usually 2 days.) I eat it like a box of popcorn - just takes a few seconds longer cuz I have to unwrap each piece. Then when that is gone, I vow to quit, then I unknowingly drive to Wal-Mart to buy 2 bags of DOUBLE BUBBLE, which lasts me 1 day, only buying 2 because I will be quitting tommorrow
I started out about 8 years ago with Big Red as my gum of choice - knowing the price of my Wriggles BR at every store in town and who was cheapest was my high. No lie, if a store was out of Big Red, I would drive to the next store and get it. They could have been giving away any other brand or flavor and I would have passed it by - not to stop chewing….just would keep going until I found my BR… nothing else would do!
Then I Graduated to D.B. Not good. I am possitive that I am addicted to the sugar and just can not stop. (Believe me, I have tried the sugarless version of both and it always makes me sick because I chew so much at first, and realize that I am missing the sugar!)
My dentist loves me, I have gained a ton of weight, I have no energy after the initial sugar buzz….what kind of help is there for us???
Comment by Patricia — January 6, 2008 @ 6:00 pm
Incredible!! Look at all of these people with the same addiction that I have. I snickered when I Googled “addiction to bubble gum”, because I thought, “How ridiculous am I?” But, here you all are, and it is so true - this is a real addiction. I am trying to eat clean and also kick my obsessive gum chewing/snacking habit. I am thin, but my teeth have truly paid the price - I have had two dental implants, and am probably on my way to a 3rd. The dentists think it’s bad genes, but I try to tell them about my addiction. I don’t even think they can comprehend how bad it is.
Right now I am going through major withdrawals since I don’t have any gum. I work long hours, and bubble gum is what gets me through. It is diefintely a replacement for the cigarettes I quit @ 7 years ago. My preference is sugary gum - I buy the bulk box of sugary chiclets (like the kind that come out of the gumball machine) and find myself scooping handfuls into a plastic bag to take to work every day! That is CRAZY!
I think sugarless gum is just sooo toxic for a person like myself, so I try to stay away from it. All of those artificial sweeteners have to be cancer-causing when not consumed in moderation!
Think I’ll try to have a cup of green tea. Sigh!
Comment by Monica C. — April 22, 2008 @ 4:05 pm
Wow, this is insane. I had no idea that anyone else out there had the same habit as me! I chew gum constantly! I used to do it to prevent eating too much. I also found that I could drink water faster if I had gum in my mouth. For me, the flavor changes but right now it is Trident Minty Sweet Twist (2 pieces at a time). I only chew sugarless. I recently have been told by my dentist that it looks like I grind my teeth. I was too embarrassed to ask if it could be because of constant gum chewing. Because I really do not think that I grind my teeth. I also have 2 cracked fillings and 2 cracked molars. I was wondering if chewing so much gum (even sugarless) could cause these problems. But, again I did not tell my dentist. I know some sugarless gum is supposed to be good. But, I just worry that chewing constantly may mess up my teeth.
Comment by Kat — April 24, 2008 @ 10:57 am
I thought I was crazy with the gum addiction! Im so happy there are other people like me. I love gum. I love gum so much!
My favorite thing to do when I am in a different city is to look for all of the flavors of gum we don’t have here! I got about 40 different kinds last summer, and chewed them all! I get so excited for a new flavor to come out!
I even wrote to Trident to tell them how much I loved their Cherry gum and was so upset when I couldn’t find it anymore. I wish I could find a case of it!
Comment by Rosita — April 29, 2008 @ 1:37 pm
Wow, this is crazy. I felt so alone in my addiction till I found this website. I too chew lg amounts of gum, Glee Gum, its all natural gum flavored with rice syrup. Its has less calories then the usual but still has like 2 cal per pc. I chew like handfuls at a time cuz the pc’s are so sm. I am trying to give it up because I have TMJ and suffer from acid reflux, dizzy spells, and seems like low blood sugar??? I feel like shit all the time and I think its from the gum habit. Has anyone else had bad symptoms from the sugar in gum and constant chewing? Ever thought of getting a tongue ring to help w the oral fixation? My friend has one and says it helps with the need to have something in your mouth, other then food or candy. Sounds crazy but I just might try it. At least I wont have any health problems from a tongue ring. Plus I think I have gained some weight in my lower belly from all the sugar!!! Gum was suppose to help me loose weight not gain! I need to stop, or at least only chew a little bit once a day. Help??
Comment by Jessica — July 12, 2008 @ 10:49 pm