A recent study from UCLA found that chewing gum releases microplastics into saliva, potentially leading to ingestion. The study tested five brands each of synthetic and natural gum and found that a single piece of gum could release up to 3,000 microplastic particles into the mouth. The researchers suggest chewing one piece of gum for a longer time to reduce microplastic ingestion. While exposure to plastics is common in daily life, there is no evidence of a direct link between microplastics and changes in human health.