Chewing Gum in School

Do you know that chewing gums is not something that is new to the human race? One of the surprising chewing gum facts is that gums as old as nine thousand years, have been discovered! So, clearly, there is something about them which makes them so popular even after so many years!

Speaking about chewing gums in the current scenario, there is a debate raging whether chewing gums in school be allowed or not. Some people and authorities are so against it that many school districts have banned it totally! However, when it comes to deciding whether or not to chew gums, both the pros and cons of chewing gums should be looked into.

Chewing Gum in School: Pros and Cons

Benefits
Researches have shown that children who chew gums during the exams or tests, fare anywhere between 26% to 36% better. Yes! Chewing gums are a great stress buster. They make a child feel relaxed and thus, he is able to give his best in studies! Moreover, chewing gum is known to increase the glucose levels in the body. Some studies proclaim that chewing gum increases the heart rate and the blood flow to the brain. This makes the brain active, improving upon a child's alertness and concentration!

Another benefit of chewing gum in school is that it keeps hunger at bay. Since obesity amongst school children is at an all time high in America. By chewing gums, children reduce their need to snack on fast foods at odd times. This keeps their weight in check.

The benefits of chewing gums for the oral health are known to everybody. Chewing gums is second to only brushing, in keeping the teeth free of bacteria. This is especially true of gums which contain "Xylitol" and "Sorbitol". Gums with these chewing gum ingredients, keep the health of the teeth intact and prolong tooth decay. They whiten the teeth and prevent the formation of stains on them. Also, chewing gums is good way to exercise the jaw muscles, making both the jaw and teeth stronger!

Drawbacks
Now, let's move on to look at the drawbacks of chewing gums in school. There are some disadvantages of chewing gums from the health point of view. If a child eats sugary gums, the quality of his tooth enamel can lessen over time. Chewing gums produces excess stomach acids which can sometimes cause indigestion, gas, constipation and other stomach problems. One of the worst issues with chewing gums is that many of these contain aspartame, an ingredient which is linked to life-threatening diseases like cancer. However, no research has ever proved a link between anyone contracting such diseases due to chewing gums!

Some teachers are of the view that chewing gums can be very distracting in the class. Children are busy chewing, blowing balloons and having fun with them and tend to overlook what is being taught in class. Secondly, children stick gums anywhere on the campus, on the tables, walls, chairs, etc and thus, mess up the surroundings. Also, there have been many bullying incidences involving them in various schools in the past.

Looking at these chewing gum in school facts, one can conclude that it has its own share of advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, the decision to eat them in school should lie with the kids. Teachers on their part, can ask children to spit them out if they are getting distracted by it or ban gums in the class for a week to forbid the kids from sticking gums on the desks. However, banning it completely is not the solution as students will find their own ways to chew gums secretly in schools, thus making any of such rules ineffective!