If you don't allow your DC to have chewing gum...why not?

[user1491572121]

I understand with young children but 9? My DD is 9 and sometimes, for a treat, I will let her have a pack of Juicy Fruit.

I know some people call it "Disgusting!"

No idea why...I personally find lollipops disgusting...all that slopping over a stick...pulling a spitty sweet in and out of mouths...but I'd never say so...because I get that it's just my weirdness.

Why don't you allow your child gum?

DD's friend is 9 too and she's not allowed gum but she is allowed really sticky toffees and other things I'd think twice about for teeth's sake.

Why?

Common! Ha! A very distinguished man once told me "It's very common to call people common."

And he was right!

There is a brand new school where my daughter attends sports lessons in the evening, it has been open 6 months, there are white spots of chewing gum all around the entrance and on the brand new black tarmac!

Because there is no point to it, it looks awful. Plus I don't want it getting stuck in their hair.

People chewing gum is not a good luck, and I always judge gum chewers. It is a revolting and unecessary habit which tends to leave a horrendous mess. It should be banned full stop IMO.

It doesn't biodegrade. It causes litter. We try to avoid buying anything plastic.

Because it's a bit.....you know, just not nice or attractive on anyone but little kids chewing away makes people question what other rubbish their parents feed them... but maybe that's just me! We don't have it at home and dd had never asked for any so it's not an issue for us.

You always judge gum chewers!?

Wow. Hope you dont teach your kids to be so judgemental.

Have you ever looked down at the pavements in your local town centre? Every few years, my council spend tens of thousands removing all the gum.

Personally, I think gum should carry a surcharge to be spent on cleaning town centres...

I don't like it myself, I hate that the flavour goes really quickly and then you have to get rid of a wodge of gum and there's not always a bin handy. I wasn't allowed it as a child.

Other people constantly chewing is irritating especially if they pop it. And I agree with chewing the cud comments

I think with children it's a choking hazard, if they're chewing it while running around playing. I don't let them run around eating lollipops or anything else either.

My son is autistic and uses chewing gum in class to help him with his verbal tics. The school have been very good about allowing him to use it in this way, and all of his classmates know that just because he is allowed gum, it doesn't mean they are.

I hate the stuff, so he isn't allowed it at home though

The noise is gross. Seeing someone chewing is gross.

Juicy fruit though? That's full of sugar, so no argument that it's a better alternative to sugary sweets. Especially with the constant chewing attacking the teeth for a lot longer than other sweets.

Because it contains sweeteners. They've never had it (now 17 & 18) and they've not missed out greatly!

common & pointless

Mine (10 & 8) are allowed sugar free gum to keep their teeth clean sometimes. Or if we're out and they're whinging about wanting sweets, they just as happy with gum.

SIngapore have the right idea - I think it's banned there.

My brother dropped a piece of gum on a plane when he was a child and it went EVERYWHERE. My dad didn't notice until it was all over the seat and DB's trousers. Not fun to deal with in an enclosed space.

Chewing gum can help some people with sensory difficulties as an alternative to chewing on clothes, furniture, skin etc. My son can't have because he would swallow it so has objects to chew on instead.

Yes, I see your point about the word "common" being rather common itself... but I do think it's common to chew gum. It looks terrible (to the point where I find it difficult to look at someone whenever they're chewing).

Chewing gum is a pet peeve of mine, I can't stand it.

It looks so common!

And I know I sound like a snob but is.

*it is

Chewing gum doesn't make you into a litterer. You're either the kind of scumbag who drops litter or you're not. Why would you be more likely to drop chewing gum than a crisp packet or a sweet wrapper? I'm not particularly keen on gum, but I don't get the litter argument.

The point of chewing gum is that it is very good for your teeth. Both the xylitol it contains and the saliva you produce as you chew are anti bacterial, so it's very good after a meal to lower the level of acid in your mouth. Tooth brushing after a meal can actually damage teeth because you're brushing the acid into the enamel.

That said, I hate constant chewing too.

Exactly Eol. We chew gum but don't drop litter. I'm one of those huffy people who tells people off for dropping litter and spitting.

Sweets you eat and they're gone. Gum just goes on forever and seems pointless.

Mind you, it's never come up as 9yo DC has never asked for it, nor have we noticed anyone else having it. I daresay if he were desperate to have some I'd let him have it on occasion.

My parents told me that if you swallow chewing gum then it would wrap round your bones and slowly asphyxiate you...

They also mentioned that if you swallowed apple pips then a tree would grow and the first signs (which would have been far too late for modern medical intervention) were leaves growing out of your ears.

Can't, shan't, won't, never-ever will chew gum & am still very careful around pips.