Chewing gum, as a popular snack, is not only delicious but also helps clean the mouth for adults. However, for children, especially younger ones, consuming chewing gum requires caution. This is because the additives that may be present in chewing gum could pose a potential threat to children’s health. In addition, children have not yet fully mastered the skills of safe swallowing, making them prone to accidental swallowing, which can sometimes lead to serious consequences.
Although the level of plasticizers in chewing gum meets safety standards, frequent consumption may still affect children’s health due to cumulative effects. Unique eating habits of children, such as repeatedly manipulating chewed gum before putting it back in their mouths, may allow bacteria, viruses, and parasite eggs from their hands to enter their bodies, increasing the risk of illness. More concerning is that children have weaker self-control, and lengthy chewing of gum may lead to unintentional swallowing or cause teeth grinding during sleep, affecting sleep quality.
In the event that a child accidentally swallows chewing gum, parents need not panic excessively. In most cases, chewing gum will naturally pass through the human body. Eating fiber-rich foods can promote intestinal movement and speed up its elimination. Xylitol chewing gum sold in the market is relatively safe and can be swallowed, but caution should still be taken to avoid it entering the trachea.
If a child accidentally inhales chewing gum or other small objects into the trachea, the correct emergency measure is to remain calm, clear the mouth of foreign objects, and use the back-patting method while upside down to help the child expel the object. In emergencies, medical help should be sought immediately. In daily life, it is advisable to avoid making the child laugh or scare them while they are chewing food, to reduce the risk of foreign objects entering the trachea.
In view of the above considerations, it is generally not recommended to give chewing gum to toddlers to avoid unnecessary health risks. Only when a child grows older and can understand and follow safety consumption rules, around the age of 5 or 6, should they be allowed to try it in moderation, and parents should continue to supervise to ensure that the child does not swallow it.
It is worth noting that moderate chewing of gum can indeed bring some benefits to adults, such as a short-term boost in memory, promotion of facial muscle movement, and aid in digestion. However, children’s daily chewing of gum should be limited to no more than three times to avoid causing tension in the chewing muscles and sleep disturbances.
