Rod Moser, PA, PhD - WebMD expert blogs
Teachers have always been strict when it comes to chewing gum. Not only is it annoying to have kids chewing and popping their gum, they often discard it under their desks, or throw it on the floor. Next to an encounter with dog poop, stepping on gum is one of the worst shoe-related experiences.
But chewing gum has multiple uses. It temporarily freshens funky breath, and people often use chewing gum to help pop their ears when changing altitude, either in a vehicle traveling in a mountainous area, or in an airplane. Chewing gum (or swallowing the saliva that is generated) helps open the Eustachian tubes and allows painful, middle-ear air pressure to equalize. Years ago, a patient told me that chewing gum was worthless for this purpose. Much to my horror, she told me that the worst part was trying to get the gum out of her ears! She apparently was chewing it, and then inserting it in her ear canals like ear plugs.
Chewing gum typically has sugar, which can contribute to dental caries. Sugar-free gum is often distributed by parents for this very reason. The sorbitol in sugar-free gum has the potential to cause an increase in intestinal gas, however. Gum containing another naturally found sugar called xylitol, on the other hand, has some significant health benefits. Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, including mouthwash, toothpaste and medicines.
Xylitol is not only safe for diabetics because it does not trigger an insulin response; studies have found it beneficial in actually preventing dental caries. It is currently being studied as a preventative for osteoporosis and as a preventative for thrush (oral yeast infections).I have read various studies that show that xylitol gum helps prevent middle-ear infections in children. Three Finnish studies, published in Cochrane Reviews, reported that “children who chewed gum containing xylitol had a 25% lower risk of developing middle ear infections.” The authors claim that xylitol inhibits the growth and acid production of certain bacteria, and they recommend two sticks of xylitol gum, chewed for five minutes, five times per day. That’s a lot of gum and a minimum of 8 grams of xylitol was recommended. So, is it safe?
Xylitol is safe (and natural for those who prefer natural remedies), but in doses over 65 grams, one small study of children found that several develop diarrhea and gas, though this potential side effect improved after several weeks of use. There are dozens of brands of xylitol gum available, each containing about 1 gram of xylitol in each stick. It is not cheap – a hundred sticks cost from $10 to $12. At 8-10 sticks a day, this preventative would cost about $30 a month. Is it cost effective? If you consider that dental care is not cheap, and a typical middle-ear infection can cost well over a hundred dollars without insurance, it well may be. But the idea of dozens of children chewing gum in class, sticking it to the bottom of their desks, or carelessly dropping it on the floor would not seem appealing to teachers.
So, next time a child is chastised for chewing gum in line, they can claim the gum is prescribed “medicine.” Having a copy of these Finnish studies to whip out after arriving in the principal’s office would seem to help your legal defense.