32. Chewing gum
There isn’t a right way and a wrong way to chew gum, but there is a right amount. Too much of anything isn’t good for us, and this is especially true for gum. Gum has a lot more sugar in it than we might think (and a lot more than we’d probably like to know), and so while it seems completely harmless, chewing gum isn’t only bad for our weight, but it also feeds the bacteria in our mouth.
Chewing gum to eliminate bad breath can actually worsen our bad breath, as it feeds the bacteria in our mouth and wears down our teeth, one of the factors for bad breath. If you absolutely must chew gum, opt for a sugar-less one (read the ingredient list and make sure there’s no added sugar at all), although it’s better to avoid it altogether.