Many people chew gum as a harmless habit or to keep their breath fresh.

Some reported benefits of chewing gum even include reduced stress levels and fewer cavities.

But chewing gum can also cause jaw and digestive issues.

Obsessive gum chewing can even be the sign of an eating disorder.

Chewing gum. It keeps your breath fresh, your teeth clean, and some surveys have even claimed that it reduces stress levels.

But for certain individuals, this act can actually be harmful, become obsessive, and could even be a sign of a serious health issue.

Chewing gum frequently can cause stomach problems and even trigger IBS.

Chewing gum can cause you to swallow air pockets, which can cause abdominal pain and bloat, according to ABC News. This bloating and discomfort can cause particular pain to those who suffer from IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome.

But that's not the only reason it can cause stomach problems: a study by Binghamton University in New York found that titanium dioxide, which is found in many types of gum, could even mess with your digestion.

People with eating disorders often use chewing gum as a tactic to stave off eating.

INSIDER spoke to a registered dietitian and found out that chewing through packs of gum a day is common amongst those who suffer from an eating disorder.

"Chewing gum is one way to suppress your appetite, which, therefore, means you can eat less during the day and so it’s part of the behaviors that help our clients to restrict their diets and begin to lose weight," Melainie Rogers, a certified eating disorder dietitian and the founder and CEO of Balance, an eating disorder treatment center in New York City, told INSIDER.

She said this problem is very common amongst clients who suffer from anorexia or bulimia.

Anorexic clients will chew gum in place of eating all day to keep their appetite under control, Rogers told INSIDER. Bulimic clients will also not eat during the day and will chew gum until they get home to usually binge and then purge.

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The artificial sweeteners, like sorbitol, in sugar-free gum have been proven to temporarily alleviate the discomfort of hunger pangs, according to a study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders in September 2009.

Extreme amounts of sugar-free gum can be detrimental to your health.

The increased consumption of artificial sweeteners found in gum can cause bloating, cramping, and chronic diarrhea. Additionally, constant chewing can lead to temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ), causing chronic pain, according to Livestrong.

More severe health problems were reported in those who consumed more than 30 grams of sorbitol per day, equivalent to the amount found in about 24 pieces of sugar-free gum, according to a study in the British Medical Journal, January 2008.

Rogers said some of her clients go through five or even 10 packs of gum per day.

If you have noticed this behavior in yourself or in someone you know, Rogers shared her advice with INSIDER on what to do first:

"I think the first question to ask yourself is: what’s your motivation [for] chewing so much gum? Is it, in fact, to try to not eat? And then if that’s the case, it may be a sign that your desire to not eat, restrict calories, is getting a little obsessive."

Seeking help from a nutritionist or a therapist would be the next step to figure out what’s really going on.

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