Does Chewing Gum Help You Concentrate? What Studies Suggest

Chewing gum has always been a go-to for little things. A burst of flavor. A way to stay alert on a long drive. A quick breath freshener before walking into a room. But recently, more people are turning to gum for something else—concentration. As we head into late fall and the days grow darker, many of us are looking for simple, screen-free ways to keep our minds sharp during long stretches of work or study.

Does chewing gum help you concentrate? Research has been trying to answer that for years. Some studies suggest yes, at least in short bursts. Others point to the way gum ties into physical and mental habits. What’s becoming more clear is that focus is about more than just what we think—it’s about how we move, how we respond to sensory cues, and the small rituals we repeat every day. Gum might help. Not only because of what's in it, but because of what the act of chewing does for the brain.

How Chewing Impacts Brain Activity

When we chew, it’s not just our mouth that gets moving. Light, repetitive jaw movements can wake up areas of the brain tied to alertness and motor control. These are the same parts we use when solving problems, keeping track of tasks, or reacting to our surroundings. It’s a subtle kind of boost, but it can matter when you’re trying to stay focused for an extended period.

Some researchers think chewing supports blood flow in parts of the brain linked to memory, especially during challenging mental tasks. That could explain why some people feel sharper when they’re chewing. It’s a kind of steady background activity—almost like pacing while talking on the phone or clicking a pen during a meeting.

And then there’s rhythm. Gentle chewing creates a kind of internal pacing that some people find centering. Like tapping a foot or squeezing a stress ball, that predictable motion can make it easier to stay present without mentally drifting off. For certain tasks, especially ones that require quiet focus, that effect might be enough to count.

Behavioral Mechanisms Behind the Focus Boost

Focus doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s shaped by how we feel, what we do with our hands, and what habits we've built. That’s where chewing gum gets interesting. One behavioral mechanic at play is oral motor activity—the act of moving the jaw or mouth—without needing to speak or eat. This keeps that part of the body engaged so the mind doesn’t wander quite as far or as fast.

There’s also the salivary effect. Chewing boosts saliva production, and saliva sends feedback to the nervous system. That response may help signal the body that it’s time to stay alert, not wind down. Saliva itself doesn’t cause focus, but in context it’s one more nudge toward a wakeful state.

Then there’s attention shifting. Chewing can gently redirect part of your awareness away from distractions and into a low-stakes, repetitive action. That sort of partial focus leaves more space for your brain to stay on task without feeling overwhelmed. It can work a bit like background white noise—but for the body.

What Studies Suggest About Gum and Concentration

So what does the research say? A few lab studies have looked at the effects of gum chewing during memory tasks, math problems, or long reading sessions. In some of those, participants who chewed gum performed slightly better. Most of the benefits were short-term and small in scale, but still noticeable in a few key areas—namely attention and task performance.

Some research also points to better mental stamina. Test subjects who were asked to complete repetitive assignments showed a little more consistency in their work when they were chewing gum. This might come in handy during late-night study periods or long work days when energy tends to dip.

That said, not all findings agree. Some variability seems to depend on whether or not the gum was flavored, whether the task required deep memory recall or light attention, or how long the session lasted. Because of these differences, researchers don’t make hard guarantees. But there’s enough evidence to suggest that for some people, and during certain tasks, gum might offer a small advantage.

How Ingredients Matter for Mental Clarity

Not all gum is built the same. While traditional chewing gum might help with focus through movement alone, some newer versions include added ingredients aimed at cognitive support. That’s where nootropics come in—like magnesium, L-theanine, or vitamin D3. These nutrients have been studied for their possible roles in calming the mind while keeping it awake.

Combining those ingredients with chewing delivers two effects at once. One comes from the act of chewing itself. The other comes from the slow absorption of simple compounds through the mouth. Some users say that pairing movement and functional ingredients leaves them feeling more mentally clear without feeling overstimulated.

Another important factor is purity. Gums made without artificial ingredients, like titanium dioxide or synthetic sweeteners, may feel better for people who are mindful about what they chew. BIZZ uses a compostable pouch made from polylactic acid and a gum base from chicle tree sap and mastic resin, both supporting cleaner routines and reducing synthetic intake.

Clean ingredient lists reflect broader wellness choices, and that care often correlates with better consistency in focus routines.

Why It’s Not Just About the Gum — It’s the Habit

Gum works best when it’s part of a routine. Like reaching for your favorite notebook or adjusting your workspace lighting, chewing gum can turn into a cue that tells your brain it’s time to focus. That layered connection between physical habit and attention gets stronger the more often you repeat it.

Lots of people already use rituals to shift gears during the day. Morning coffee. Afternoon stretching. Silence before a big project. Adding another sensory habit to that list, like chewing, strengthens your mental signal chain. It’s your brain’s way of saying this is the part where we settle in and get to work.

Creating that pattern is especially helpful for tasks that don’t come easy—like long planning sessions, deep study, screen-free writing, or admin-heavy chores. Triggering focus with something simple and physical makes it more likely you'll ease into the work rather than resist it.

A Simple Action with Surprising Benefits

So, does chewing gum help you concentrate? The short answer is... it might. While gum alone won’t turn distraction into laser focus, it can help nudge your brain toward a more attentive state. Between the act of chewing, the natural cues it provides, and the ingredients in some versions, gum creates multiple ways to support mental clarity.

For many of us, especially heading into holiday prep season, small rituals like this make a difference. Focus isn’t just a skill. It’s a rhythm. And sometimes, the smallest rhythms are the easiest to stick with. Chewing gum may be simple, but when used with intention, it becomes one more tool in shaping how—and how well—we stay present.

At BIZZ, we believe clean focus starts with clean ingredients. That’s why we build every chew around nature’s best, without artificial dyes, plastics, or sweeteners that disrupt your rhythm. Curious about what goes into creating safe, effective support for everyday mental clarity? Take a look at our formula for crafting natural focus Nixodine gum. Made for those who value simplicity, performance, and honest ingredients. Have questions or need help choosing what’s right for you? Contact us today.