Has anyone else noticed how yellow all the pros' teeth look in photos? Testament to the fact that being on the bike for many hours with a continual stream of food of any type (especially the sugars) can't be good for you.

I chew gum. I started the habit after I quit smoking. I chew on the bike. I chew during races. I kinda just park it on the side of my mouth. I've never had a problem inhaling it or getting it stuck in food (then again, I only use drinks and gels on the bike, no solid foods).

BTW, I had one of my main salivary glands removed last year so now my mouth feels dry all the time. My dentist prescribed special gum for me that's supposed to stimulate salivation. Seems to do the trick.

One cavaet on gum is that it masks the feeling of thirst, so you need to be extra careful about hydrating enough.