rationale for no gum?

[G-love]

I am wondering if anyone else out there doesn't let their kids chew gum, and what their reasons are. I just don't like it at all: don't like seeing people chew it, HATE the little globs. However, my son demands reasons for everything (a good thing, but tiring sometimes). Usually I can just use the "not healthy" reason (though now he reads labels and claims that things with "vitamin c added" are actually healthy, and I get sucked into anti-advertising tirades). But with gum, it's not particularly unhealthy. I don't feel I have a great reason other than it gets on my nerves, and I feel a bit dictatorial making that the only reason.
Any thoughts out there?
Thanks!

[athansor]

I don't have expereince yet, as my little guy is too young, but my mom would never let us chew gum. Her rationale was that it was bad for teeth, although I think it just bugged her It worked, though, but that was before there were so many 'dental health' gums.

[shelbean91]

I generally don't let dd chew b/c I'm afraid of it finding it's way out of her mouth and into her hair. The few times I've let her- it was 'in the mouth or in the garbage' no playing, etc. She's done ok, but I still don't let her chew too often.

[sphinx]

i finally caved in, but i like the peelu gum available at whole foods. at first i was getting it sent over here, now my dd just gets the junk gum, but much more rarely.

some of my friends believe children need to chew, it's an extension of the sucking reflex. don't know if there is truth in that.


but - reasons why it is not healthy - because chewing causes your (acidic) gastric juices to start flowing, which is dangerous when there is no food to digest. Not that a kid will care about that!

[L.J.]

I don't because the sugar is so bad for their teeth.

And the sugarless has artificial sweeteners in them that are basically toxic.

[girlndocs]

I pull rank.

It grosses me out, it's rude to be chomping away at a big wad of something, and he can't do it in my house.

And everyone else he hangs out with knows not to give him gum, either, because it usually has artificial flavor or color (he's sensitive to those) and either loads of sugar or nasty artificial sweeteners.

[Linda in OZ]

Originally Posted by girlndocs

I pull rank.

It grosses me out, it's rude to be chomping away at a big wad of something, and he can't do it in my house.

Yep, it reminds me of a cow chewing it's cud, and then seeing kids holding one end in their mouth and ssstttrrreetttccchhhiiinnnggg it, just yuk!

[flapjack]

Basically, because it's rude. Eating is a sociable pastime, chewing gum is an ANTIsocial pastime because it interferes with communication. If he gets pocket money, that's his choice, but it's not reasonable for him to expect you to spend your money on something you believe is wrong.

[babybugmama]

It's bad for your teeth or your system (sugar or artificial sweetner). It's not good for your jaw, and maybe look and see what he's really chewing and tell him what it is...see if he's still interested.

[AmyAngel]

Originally Posted by sphinx

some of my friends believe children need to chew, it's an extension of the sucking reflex. don't know if there is truth in that.

I don't KNOW if there's truth to that, but I FEEL that there must be. As a very small child (bottlefed, don't know if that made a difference) I sucked my thumb and chewed on my blankie. Eventually those things have to stop, and later I chewed gum when I could and in school where gum wasn't allowed I was always chewing on pencils and pens. Like chewing the pencils down to splinters and getting ink all over from breaking the pens, of course AFTER the pen caps had been chewed to nothing but bits. I was allowed gum sometimes at home, so seemed to destroy pens and pencils only at school. Some of my Barbies had no feet, though, because I chewed them off. I bit my fingernails too, and even now when I get bored, stressed or anxious my fingers go straight to my mouth. I try to keep gum with me, to help alleviate that. I still really like those wax bottle candies you can chew on. Sometimes I catch myself chewing on a straw if I have one in my drink. My mom has always had very short nails and I've never seen her not have gum in her purse, so I wonder if she had similar issues.

I think for some kids gum can be a help, but it's obviously not for all kids. For a kid that needs to chew, though, far better to be chewing gum, even WITH the sugar and sweeteners than to be eating plastic, crayons, graphite from pencils, wood and paint and ink. Gum is better for your teeth than pens and pencils! If a kid needs to chew, they will find SOMETHING, and at least gum is designed for that purpose.

[aisraeltax]

gum

i never let me kids chew gum. my 14 year old never really cared about it and it worked fine. he'll chew my gum when he gets a chance (orbit..b/c now he worries about the girls and his breath, etc.). the 7 yr. old's dad gives him gum which i dont like but with everything, the rules are different at my house and his. believe it or not the 7 yr. old is getting used to.

[Marsupialmom]

Originally Posted by AmyAngel

I think for some kids gum can be a help, but it's obviously not for all kids. For a kid that needs to chew, though, far better to be chewing gum, even WITH the sugar and sweeteners than to be eating plastic, crayons, graphite from pencils, wood and paint and ink. Gum is better for your teeth than pens and pencils! If a kid needs to chew, they will find SOMETHING, and at least gum is designed for that purpose.

I have to agree with Angel. Some kids do have this need. Another thing sometimes with the 5-7 year range they can be getting their 6 year molors and develop a need to chew just like a six month old teething.

[onlyzombiecat]

I don't totally ban gum but it is rare that my dd gets it.
My reasons are:
1. Dd swallows the gum more often than not. I don't think that is good for her.
2. I classify gum as candy- something that is fine occasionally but not often. There is no nutritional value at all to it. If she has a need to chew or suck there are products for that purpose.
3, Gum doesn't always stay in the mouth- it is difficult to clean up if it gets in hair, on clothes, carpet, or furniture.
4. There are times when it can be rude or unattractive to be chewing gum.

Should Any Kids Chew Gum?
Too much of anything can be a problem. Chewing gum is hard on dental work and most gums that are not sugar free can cause cavities. Sugar-free gum sweetened with sorbitol also can be a problem because it can cause diarrhea. Cinnamon-flavored gums of any kind may irritate the mouth lining. They can be hot and spicy in your mouth, as you probably know.

A good rule would be to stick with sugar-free gum and don't have more than one or two pieces a day. And when you're done with it, don't swallow it. Spit it out instead!

from http://kidshealth.org/kid/talk/yucky/swallowed_gum.html


http://chetday.com/gumchewing.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/moments/s1366318.htm

[Macncheezex3]

Originally Posted by onlyzombiecat

1. Dd swallows the gum more often than not. I don't think that is good for her.
2. I classify gum as candy- something that is fine occasionally but not often. There is no nutritional value at all to it. If she has a need to chew or suck there are products for that purpose.
3, Gum doesn't always stay in the mouth- it is difficult to clean up if it gets in hair, on clothes, carpet, or furniture.
4. There are times when it can be rude or unattractive to be chewing gum.

These are basically my reasons for banning gum also. My fear of getting it in hair is the main one, but we don't do processed sugars or artificial sweetners so that makes gum basically a no-no anyway. I just don't think that my children should have an oral fixation like that, to be honest. You see ppl sucking on pacifiers, chewing on pencils and straws, etc....just seems to me chewing gum at an early age would lead to that. JMO

[Stevie]

"but - reasons why it is not healthy - because chewing causes your (acidic) gastric juices to start flowing, which is dangerous when there is no food to digest. Not that a kid will care about that!"

*****************************************


: that is the reaon I don't buy gum for my DD. She does spend "her" money on it, but very seldom.

[G-love]

thanks!

Thanks for all the input, everyone! My main issue is really the "cud chewing" thing, but it's been hard for me to articulate why it's "rude." I like the eating as social behavior, something you do together, and gum chewing as somehow antisocial. Maybe it's an extension of talking with your mouth full?
I can totally relate to AmyAngel's points. I was a terrible nail biter till age 18, and my son is becoming one as well. I also developed TMJ from grinding my teeth (another reason I never liked gum--made my jaw hurt). I hate to see these things cropping up in my son, but I think my dislike of gum is greater than any comfort it might provide!

[Mirzam]

No gum here. Although my 15 year old does chew it at school, but if I see her doing it, it goes in the trash. She knows how I feel about it. I was never allowed gum either, but my mother had a pathological fear of choking which was why she didn't allow it, I just think it is a nasty habit that is both unhealthy and unnecessary. With my younger two (7 and 5), its just not part of their life and wouldn't dream of asking for it or accepting some if offered.

[PikkuMyy]

I chewed gum like an addiction as a teenager. When I stopped because of the sugar/chemicals aspect, I was addicted to chewing itself and began to chew my cheeks. I did that for years (and I don't think I need to explain why that's bad!) and still do it occasionally. It was really awful.

[trmpetplaya]

I don't have to think about it with my kids for a few years yet, but I don't let myself chew it unless:

1. It's the natural kind because every single type of gum on the shelf (except the all-natural stuff) has BHT in it and dh found some info about it being linked with cancer. It's actually in a lot of things... frozen pizzas, candy, chips, dried cups of soup, unsalted walnuts, cereal, and almost anything else on the mainstream shelves. They say that the amount in the food is so little that it couldn't hurt anyone, but um... I had a roommate in college who chewed at least a pack of gum (those big economy sized ones) every day. So how much is too much?

2. I only chew the natural kind if it's after lunch and I have to go sit in a little room with co-workers for hours or if we're going somewhere I my breath really needs something

I hope to teach my children to do the same My parents never let us chew gum at home though we sometimes got it on road trips (going over mountains) and of course on the airplane.

love and peace.

[LoveBeads]

:
I encourage my DD to chew gum. She has sensory issues and wants to eat non-stop. Strangely, she's never sucked her thumb or taken a pacifier.

So yes, I do let her chew gum after she has eaten. If not, she'll keep eating until she gets sick.