Having seen how chewing gum is made, we want to get a little closer to this treat enjoyed by so many children and adults. How does it affect the teeth and the body in general? Is it harmful for children to chew gum?
We start from the basis that any goody is at the top of the nutritional pyramid, among those "empty foods", which provide calories are value, fats and sugars that must be consumed occasionally (along with sodas and assorted snacks).
Therefore, chewing gum is not healthy, which does not mean that it is prohibited, at least if the child knows how to chew and not swallow the chewing gum (and even when we think they are ready, they will probably swallow it on occasion ). It is best to wait after three or four years, and monitor how they chew gum the first few times.
My oldest daughter did not taste the gum until she was three and a half years old, and it was because the pediatrician recommended it as another "exercise" to improve an ear problem: the movement of the jaws when chewing was beneficial, as we will see at the end.
But, What's wrong with chewing gum? According to specialists, chewing gum by itself is not harmful, which can harm the teeth, stomach and body in general, is the abuse of this substance. Let's see how excess gum can be harmful:
In the process of chewing the candy involved the teeth, bone, temporomandibular joint and muscles of the area, and if excessive consumption occurs, due to the constant movement of the jaw a dysfunction in this joint can occur and problems Muscles in the chewing system.
The subject of tooth decay It is another related to the consumption of chewing gum and other goodies. The residues that live in the mouth can feed the bacteria and favor the appearance of decay. It would be best to brush your teeth after each meal, even after chewing gum.
Xylitol is a sugar-free sweetener that is gaining popularity as an ingredient in caramel, chewing gum and toothpaste. Although it has been proven effective in preventing tooth decay (xylitol is the factor that most likely inhibits the growth of Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria in the oral cavity that produces cavities), ingesting large amounts of the sweetener may pose some health risks for children.
Weight gain: The sweeteners contained in chewing gum contribute to weight gain in children with a tendency to gain weight. In addition, blood sugar levels are increased, which can be problematic for children with diabetes or high triglycerides.
Dyes are not recommended in children with a predisposition to allergies.
An excess of sugars and dyes could cause gastroenteritis.
Decreased appetite: when eating gum, stomach movements are promoted, which secrete their juices and produce abundant salivation, which causes the digestive organs to be "deceived": they prepare to receive food that does not arrive.
Swallow the gum: There is a myth that a chewing gum stays in the digestive tract forever, but normally it goes through it without problems. Although the stomach cannot break the gum in the same way it does with other foods (remember that among its ingredients there was plastic), it will pass to the intestines normally. Of course, swallowing many gums in a short period of time can block the digestive tract in exceptional cases: rare cases of bowel obstruction are known due to the accumulation of gum, especially if they have been ingested with objects such as coins, buttons, shells of pipes ...
In the opposite sense, that of possible benefits of chewing gum, there are some studies that relate xylitol (although the substance, not specifically in chewing gum) with the prevention of otitis. Chewing gum is also considered as a pediatric protocol to improve certain types of otitis.
And finally chewing can benefit mandibular development, although the same results have chewed food, and also without the danger of being swallowed.
In summary, you have to control the intake of gum by children, take them occasionally, without sugar, brush your teeth afterwards whenever possible and be careful with wrapping it later and throwing it away, let's not dirty the streets ... or the houses.
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