Chewing gum releases hundreds of tiny plastic pieces straight into people's mouths, researchers said on Tuesday, also warning of the pollution created by the rubber-based sweet.

A new study found that both natural and synthetic gum shed microplastics, with each piece of gum producing about 100 pieces of microplastics.

A SINGLE piece of chewing gum releases thousands of toxic microplastics into your mouth to be swallowed, scientists have warned. Tiny plastic particles shed by everyday items like cutting boards,