Chewing sugar free gum is now considered to play an important part in operation recovery. It’s so simple to do but chewing gum can have a number of surprising benefits which I will outline below.

Kick Start Digestion

It is thought that chewing sugar free gum can help the digestive system after anaesthesia. It’s incredible to think how something so small can make such a big difference to recovery times. But the chewing reflex helps get the digestive tract moving. This happens because when we chew sugar free gum, we make more saliva as our body is expecting food. This then helps activate the digestive processes and gets your bowels working again.

Leave Hospital Quicker

Retained stools can be very painful, your tummy will become swollen, and it may delay you leaving hospital. Some doctors will not allow you to leave before a bowel movement. Therefore, it’s a good idea to get back to normal as soon as you can, making sure you’re moving around. Plus keep chewing gum especially if you’re feeling nauseous after the operation and not up to eating.

Getting to go home quicker can help with your operation recovery. Apparently, the familiar surroundings bring a lot of comfort. Plus, another advantage of getting home quickly is avoiding hospital infections like MRSA.

Reduce Anxiety After Operations

Being in hospital can be a stressful time. Fortunately chewing sugar free gum is thought to also help reduce stress and anxiety.  So, you are more likely to recover quicker if you’re not feeling as sad and vulnerable. If you are too anxious you could lose your appetite or struggle to sleep. The result of which would make your recovery much slower because your energy levels are low. You are not rebuilding your strength quick enough.

Research has shown that chewing sugar free gum can make you feel relaxed and calm.

Help with Nausea

After an operation its common to feel nauseous. However, chewing peppermint gum for 10 minutes had some promising results.

Ease Heartburn

Its common with some operations to suffer with heartburn afterwards. Chewing sugar free gum can help as the increased saliva will water down the increase in stomach acid. That can stop that uncomfortable burning feeling and chest pain that makes it difficult to rest comfortably when recuperating.

Given how useful something as simple as chewing sugar free gum is, it would make sense to include a few packets in your hospital bag. It is an inexpensive way to speed up your recovery!