Chewing sugar-free gum reduced preterm births in a large study
The idea was inspired by the connection between poor oral health and preterm birth
![photo of a woman holding a baby](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/021022_ac_malawi-preterm-births_feat.jpg?fit=1030%2C580&ssl=1)
A woman cradles her baby in Malawi, which has one of the highest rates of preterm births in the world. A new study of around 10,000 Malawi women suggests that chewing a sugar-free gum daily could reduce those numbers.
Lindsay Mgbor/Department for International Development