# Doctors warn of hype over functional chewing gum 2026-08-07T23:52:11+00:00 | Health & Science | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Bengaluru doctors report a surge in patients asking about 'functional chewing gums' that claim to boost oral health, energy, vitamins, or help quit smoking. While xylitol-based sugar-free gums have the strongest evidence, doctors caution that most products are not a substitute for medical treatment or a balanced diet. Overreliance on heartburn-relief gums could delay diagnosis of GERD or peptic ulcers, and excessive chewing may cause jaw pain. Nicotine and caffeine gums can be effective, but consumers lack awareness of proper use and limits, physicians told Times of India. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: Bangalore, Consumer safety, FSSAI, functional gum, nicotine gum, oral health Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/doctors-warn-of-hype-over-functional-chewing-gum/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/doctors-warn-of-hype-over-functional-chewing-gum/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.