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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

..to ban my DS (7) from having chewing gum?

29 replies

WantManualForKids · 11/05/2009 11:03

Am I just old fashioned or something?

I can't abide the sight of people chewing gum with their mouthes open, and I'm not too keen on it being chewed with the mouth closed either. but I might be fighting a losing battle...

There is quite a lot of evidence, apparently, saying how chewing the 'right' gum is good for ones teeth. I find that annoying because of my prejudice agaist chewing gum because if it's good for oral health, surely DS should be able to have some, right? Andf any way, it won't be too long before he just goes and buys some on his own and hides it from his unreasonable, old fashioned Daddy

(Also, let's just fantasise, and pretend there are no shites in the world that thoughtfully spit it out on the ground for me tread in, resulting in my swearing like some random mad bloke in the street).

So AIBU?

OP posts:
laweaselmys · 11/05/2009 11:05

Pfft, ban away!

Actually, I was banned as a child and I can't recall it resulting in mental scars of any kind. Plus - my teeth are all shiny and good!

theDreadPirateRoberts · 11/05/2009 11:05

IMO - YANBU. It's a horrible habit! Brushing teeth after a meal much better anyway.

fleacircus · 11/05/2009 11:05

No, YANBU, it's disgusting and makes chewers appear utterly gormless. The evidence is surely just a load of rubbish concocted by advertisers - something to do with prolonging saliva production, I believe. But meals do that.

Original poster
WantManualForKids · 11/05/2009 11:07

Aahhh. I feel SO MUCH BETTER now

Thank you

OP posts:
UpSinceCrapOClock · 11/05/2009 11:11

Agree - nothing worse than having to dodge round spat out chewing gum in the street.

(Just as an aside, I was banned from chewing gum and bubble gum as a child as I once had some and was playing with it - you know, stretching it out into a long string, and ended up getting it caught in my tights and hair. I was very conscious of abiding by the ban being a goody two shoes and didn't touch the stuff for years and years. Was then offered some as a teenager and I actually hesitated before accepting and then felt like such a rebel for about 2 seconds - my mum felt awful when I told her that. Don't think she realised she'd made such an impression on me when she told me off!)

MmeLindt · 11/05/2009 11:13

Ooooh, DD has been nagging me to let her have chewing gum since she changed school as "AAAALLLL my frieeeends are alllowed and I am the oooooooooooonly one not allowed chewing gum".

Glad to find others feel the same. What excuses/reasons do you use to ban it?

Poppity · 11/05/2009 11:15

Ooooo! I will be watching with interest to see if anyone comes up with evidence it is good for teeth....I've been trying to ban it for ages, but DH thinks it's ok if DS chooses it as a treat instead of sweets, I can kind of see the logic there, so don't argue(too much)

I was always scared of it when I was little, my Mum told us it would stick our insides together if we accidentally swallowed it

Original poster
WantManualForKids · 11/05/2009 11:22

I just tell him he looks like a chav.

OP posts:
jellybeans · 11/05/2009 11:25

YANBU, it's disgusting

Blottedcopybook · 11/05/2009 11:28

The theory behind chewing gum being good for teeth is that certain brands (ie sugar-free) encourage saliva production and saliva (being alkaline) combats the acidic plaque - by chewing gum after a meal, the levels of plaque acid are reduced almost immediately whereas this would normally take around two hours with no intervention. The British Dental Association has actually accredited some chewing gum brands for their work in protecting teeth. It works differently to just simply eating a meal or snack as they'll contain carbs or sugar which create the plaque acid.

That said I still think it's a really antisocial habit, especially in children. Singapore had the right idea!

Original poster
WantManualForKids · 11/05/2009 11:29

Actually I'm a bit more reasoned than that.

But I agree, it is difficult to find compelling reasons to ban the stuff, esp as he is at the age where he knows it has no sugar and therefore not bad for teeth in the same way that sweets are.

OP posts:
Original poster
WantManualForKids · 11/05/2009 11:32

BCB - thanks for the insight. It seems that there is a valid dental reason to use it . Nevertheless, DS won't be getting any for as long as i can help it

OP posts:
hatwoman · 11/05/2009 11:34

I don't like it but for me it's a pick yuor battles thing. dds (8 and 7) are allowed it provided that their mouths stay firmly shut and the gum stays firmly in their mouth. and that they dispose of it properly. it's not great but it's not actually bad for them so it's not something I can get too het up about. dds do a more than ample job of providing me with stuff that is worth getting het up about...

muggglewump · 11/05/2009 11:35

Chewing Gum is the only food (is it a food when you don't eat it?) that I will not let DD have ever.
I think it looks horrible when people chew and I don't trust her not to get it stuck to something.
I have told her she can have it when she's 21

MillyR · 11/05/2009 11:37

I chew gum (although I try to do it mainly in my office so that other people don't have to see) and I do it because I used to smoke. I know chewing gum is antisocial but I think people would rather I chewed gum than smoked.

I don't know many children who chew gum, but I have a friend who makes her children chew it because they have a lot of dental problems as they don't produce enough saliva (not as much as a child should do).

Tamarto · 11/05/2009 11:38

My DCs are not allowed it, aged 10, 6 and 5.

It's never been an issue thankfully. If they are chewing it at school because they've been given some i'm not bothered but the will not be chewing it and losing it all over my house/garden.

Blottedcopybook · 11/05/2009 11:38

There's a valid dental reason with the run of the mill boring sugar-free brands which never appeal to the young 'uns ;) My DS likes all the crappy sugar-laden ones that you get, like hubba bubba and gobstoppers that he has to chew for an hour to get the chewing gum out of. I absolutely hate it and don't allow him to buy it but he brings it back from his Dad or Granny's house so there's not a huge amount I can do without being ogre Mum!

I think if you bash it in that it gets spat in the bin and they're not to run whilst chewing then that's a pretty good start but otherwise from my limited experience, banning something just makes it even more appealing.

Seona1973 · 11/05/2009 11:39

I dont ban it but then again I dont actively buy it either. I chew it sometimes too if I feel my mouth is a bit dry and smelly and I dont have access to a toothbrush - it is a minty one though and dd doesnt like the taste. DD (5.6 years) has had fruity stuff at my sisters and It didnt bother me at all.

theDreadPirateRoberts · 11/05/2009 12:02

Ooh, just remembered the only valid reason to chew gum! Next door neighbour scared me when DS was 1 by telling me about her DS age 2.5 getting a small toy stuck in his ear. After taking him to A&E she was told that it would have to be removed surgically. So she took him home, gave him chewing gum (changing pieces often to stop him getting bored) then after awhile got him to put his head to one side - a light tap and the toy was dislodged. Hurrahs all round!

Bucharest · 11/05/2009 12:04

It's banned in our house....just as it was banned by my Mum....("and it never did me no harm" lol)
It is vile.
I've told dd it tastes like chewing shoe leather and tbh, thus far, she hasn't shown any inclination to want to try it...(she's 5)

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 11/05/2009 12:07

Banned in our house too. I have vivid memories of having to have a large piece of chewing gum cut out of my hair as a child. I shudder to think what my children might do with it.

MissSunny · 11/05/2009 12:07

Message withdrawn

letswiggle · 11/05/2009 12:18

Also banned here, to the disgust of ds1 aged 7yo. My excuse is easy - no gum near his younger siblings, who "don't understand" about spitting it out. It's not going to wear for long, but I'll just brazen it out later with the whole gormless chav argument.

LovingTheRain · 11/05/2009 12:27

WantManualForKids YANBU at all.
I have never allowed any of my DCs to have chewing gum.
Oldest DC (10) is still not allowed it. It's just a rule in our house that they've grown up with.

seeker · 11/05/2009 12:36

Can't understand the ban - right time and place, mouth closed, disposed of properly - no problem.

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