Are you sometimes annoyed that some (if not all) teachers at Millennium prohibit gum chewing in class? Almost the entire school does not allow you to taste the fresh mintiness of gum. We can infer that they prohibit gum chewing in class because it gets everywhere, the sound is annoying, and the gum is hard to clean. But is that all there is?
79.6% of children/adolescents have reported to chew gum in the past three months, according to a 2019 study. Studies and scientific experiments have shown us that there are benefits to chewing gum. Whether at work, school, or the comfort of your home, chewing gum is beneficial based on what several sources have said. However, there are a few issues that come with chewing gum. Many other sources say gum is terrible for your health and can irritate the environment around you. True or not, let us see both sides of the idea to determine whether Millennium High School should keep or remove the gum-chewing policy.
Pros of Chewing Gum
Chewing gum is known to be loud and messy. Multiple schools have banned it since gum is a distraction and a mess to clean up. However, there is a bright side to it. Sugar-free chewing gum can boost the release of saliva, improving the oral health of someone. Consuming gum can help improve memory and the ability to think and can be considered a “brain food.” According to some researchers at the College of Medicine of Houston, Texas, chewing gum can raise academic performance among young students. They say, “It’s so beneficial it can even reduce stress.”
Another benefit to chewing gum is its massive benefit in the brain. Gum is proven to reduce stress, and increase memory. According to a study by the Journal of Clinical and Translational Research, participants who chewed gum regularly reported feeling less stressed than participants who didn’t chew gum. In addition, the Baylor College of Medicine in 2009 conducted a study where two groups of students aged 13-16 were assigned to chew gum while doing math classwork, homework, and tests. The results showed that students who chewed gum saw a 3% increase in standard test scores compared to students who did not chew gum. Most students at Millennium have a huge stress and academic problem. Chewing gum can significantly increase test scores, while also decreasing stress levels from the classwork.
And lastly, chewing gum is beneficial for personal hygiene. While gum doesn’t cure the conditions of bad breath, it can significantly hold the breath from escaping. sStudents at Millennium High always interact with each other on a daily basis. And the last thing we need in Millennium is someone pushing people away from them because of bad breath.
Cons of Chewing Gum
Although there are plenty of nutritious and decaying gum worldwide, the majority of the gum is processed. Synthetic rubbers are the main ingredient in gum and are the same materials made from car tires. Using synthetic rubbers means the gum created is not biodegradable, and any gum left outside in nature or even in public areas of the city will not degrade or decay to nature. If Millennium removed the gum-chewing policy, the non-decaying gum could stick to an area in the school and stay there forever! The gum around the school could put lives at risk by making students trip or disrupt the line flow around the school.
Another issue with gum chewing is developing cavities from gum that have artificial sweeteners or sugars. Prolonged use of gum chewing enables the sugars in the gum to interact with the bacteria in the plaque of your teeth to produce an acid that dissolves the enamel of your teeth to create holes or cavities in your teeth! In all honesty, Millennium does not need an epidemic of students with cavities or dental issues.
Speaking of enamels, gum chewing regularly also forms tooth deformities, leading to excessive wear on the tooth enamels. The upper molars on your teeth can gradually spread apart, while the lower molars can drift backward, which can cause overbites. Similarly, excessive gum chewing can cause TMJ (the temporomandibular joint) Disorders, in which the muscles that control your jawbone from your skull could become fatigued.
But while cavities, tooth deformities, and disorders are a concern if you chew gum, it may not affect the environment of Millennium as much as it does for students. Either way, the negative results from chewing gum should be taken into consideration by Millenium students.
What About The Students At Millennium?
We asked multiple students at Millennium across all grades to discover their relations with gum. Upon reviewing the results, we found mixed answers among most Millennium students. Some liked to chew varieties of gums ranging from Extra Gum to Trident, while others did not get into the habit of doing so.
Regardless, most students prefer not to have a gum-chewing policy at school. And, while this is a decently big win for those who like to pop one out in class, there will be no removal of the gum policy at any time in the future. However, these policies still do or will not stop the many students who secretly chew gum in class to help them focus.
But Should Millennium High School Endorse Gum Chewing? (Our Opinion)
Mohammad –
Although the pros clash with the cons of chewing gum, I find no reason to think that Millennium Students should generally be responsible for managing food and resources, including gum displacement. On the one hand, I agree that the Millennium should endorse gum chewing because most students in the US chew gum in high school (so it is inevitable), but I also think that the endorsement of gum chewing should be minimized rather than celebrated. If Millennium students and teachers can clean up after themselves, I see no reason not to believe that Millennium should endorse chewing gum.
Andrew –
As Mohammad has said, both pros and cons of gum chewing tackle each other. Although I understand the academic-related benefits gum chewing provides, I do not entirely agree with endorsing chewing gum in class. I have come to this conclusion because of multiple students’ immaturity and irresponsibility in cleaning up after themselves, as I have noticed throughout Millennium High School and the entire school system.
References
C, Daniel. “What Are Some Pros & Cons of Gum Chewing in School? – Synonym.” Classroom Synonym, 29 Sept. 2017, https://classroom.synonym.com/what-are-some-pros-cons-of-gum-chewing-in-school-12477741.html.
Colgate. “5 Benefits Of Chewing Gum | Colgate®.” Oral Health and Dental Care | Colgate®, Colgate, 9 Jan. 2023, https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/selecting-dental-products/5-benefits-of-chewing-gum#.
Martyn, Danika, and Annette Lau. “Chewing Gum Consumption in the United States among Children, Adolescents and Adults – PubMed.” PubMed, 2019, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30722760/.
Wenckowski, Julie. “Gum Chewing In School Is Good For The Brain | Screenflex.” Screenflex Portable Room Dividers, https://www.facebook.com/screenflexroomdividers, 1 Dec. 2011, https://www.screenflex.com/gum-chewing-in-school-is-good-for-the-brain/.
Last Updated: March 17th, 2024
