Q. Are there any health benefits to chewing gum?

A. Many people are aware that chewing sugarless gum can help prevent tooth decay. Apparently, gum's usefulness may go beyond the dental office, as well. Potential benefits include faster recovery from colon surgery, heartburn treatment and increased memory and concentration.

Chewing gum may help patients recover more quickly from surgeries that remove portions of the colon. Intestinal functions drastically slow down or stop after colon or other abdominal surgeries. This is a major contributing factor to post-operative pain and discomfort. In several studies, chewing gum for 5 to 45 minutes three times a day helped patients who got these surgeries resume bowel functions quicker than those who did not chew gum.

The reason gum may be effective is that it increases saliva production and may stimulate nerves in the digestive system and pancreas in much the same way eating does. Gum does this without causing the nausea that post-surgical eating produces.

Chewing gum may also help fight acid reflux and heartburn symptoms that occur when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. The increased saliva flow from chewing gum helps neutralize acid in the esophagus. It has a similar effect to an antacid. Saliva also causes more frequent swallowing, which helps force fluids back into the stomach. Gum is much cheaper than pharmaceuticals.

In addition to digestive benefits, gum may be good for concentration and memory.

Research shows that chewing gum increases blood flow to the brain by 25 to 35 percent. A study in the journal Appetite in 2002 showed that chewing gum appeared to improve people's ability to learn, retain and retrieve information. Brain activity increases in the hippocampus, an area important for memory increases while we chew.

Lastly, chewing sugarless gum improves your oral health. Since it increases saliva, it can reduce plaque and cavities. If you chew gum after you eat, the extra saliva neutralizes and washes away the acid that's produced when food breaks down in your mouth. The minerals in this saliva can strengthen your tooth enamel. It is often recommended that if you cannot brush your teeth after a meal, you should chew sugarless gum.

Ever since World War I, the U.S. armed forces have supplied chewing gum to military personnel in the field and combat rations to help increase alertness, ease tension and improve oral health. Chew on that!

Amy Tousman is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator with Nutrition Unlimited in Kailua. Hawai'i experts in traditional medicine, naturopathic medicine and diet take turns writing the Prescriptions column. Send your questions to: Prescriptions, Island Life, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com; or fax 535-8170. This column is not intended to provide medical advice.