What kind of medicated chewing gum might a 4-year-old child be chewing at school?
December 17, 2010 8:27 PM   Subscribe

What kind of medicated chewing gum might a 4-year-old child be chewing at school?

Our son has told us a few times that one of his friends at preschool chews gum during school. He says that it is a "special privilege" that this other child gets during the day.

My wife and I are curious -- is there some kind of medical gum that the child could be chewing? Something having to do with blood sugar maybe? Or is our son just making this whole thing up (which has happened before)? We don't think there is any scenario where the teachers are letting the kid chew regular gum at school, so it's either our son's imagination or there is something else going on here.
posted by Mid to Health & Fitness (15 answers total)
 
It may be some other medicine delivered in chewable form, like an antibiotic.
posted by sanka at 8:30 PM on December 17, 2010


This isn't medication, but I know that some kids with sensory integration issues do better when they have gum to chew. I seem to recall that my nephew with aspberger's may have had special dispensation to chew gum in school at one point because it helped him. I don't understand the medical background at all, but it would help him to be still, less fidgety and more focused.
posted by ldthomps at 8:46 PM on December 17, 2010 [2 favorites]


For kids with sensory integration issues (that is, difficulties in "coordinating" all the input) an OT can suggest that they chew gum to help concentrate.

They don't recommend stepping outside for a quick smoke anymore in kindergarten.
posted by shothotbot at 8:46 PM on December 17, 2010 [3 favorites]


When I was young, my sister and I took chewable vitamins. They were big and square-like and, to a kid, could've easily looked like a delicious hunk of Hubba Bubba (in fact, I remember sneaking extra servings from the cupboard because I was convinced they were candy...).
posted by Cat Face at 8:47 PM on December 17, 2010


Salivation problems? A dentist will sometimes give gum out for this reason.
posted by Loto at 9:08 PM on December 17, 2010


I knew a child who (among other issues) would chew on inappropriate things, most often the front of his shirt around the collar. Every day his shirt would be wet in a wide arc around his shirt collar. One day he had gum with him that he chewed instead, and it did keep him from chewing on other things, and his shirt stayed dry. I'm guessing it's normal gum, and your son's friend has similar issues.
posted by booksherpa at 9:25 PM on December 17, 2010


I'm sure that if you ask privately, the teacher will explain, at least in a general way. Often over the course of my son's education we've asked his schools to explain things that were confusing to him (and us). In other words, you have a vested interest in your child's learning environment.
posted by JimN2TAW at 9:28 PM on December 17, 2010 [1 favorite]


The gum itself is probably just regular gum. Kids with autism spectrum disorders often have sensory integration issues. Chewing gum (like any other joint compression) helps them focus; it can also help them with language processing and acquisition.
posted by headspace at 9:34 PM on December 17, 2010


Sometimes people with tooth decay are encouraged to chew gum with xylitol, a sweetener with some antimicrobial properties.
posted by Earl the Polliwog at 9:47 PM on December 17, 2010


I had this privilege for a while in kindergarten. The gum itself wasn't medical, but my doctor told my parents to give it to me after taking medication for something else. Unfortunately, because I was five at the time, I don't remember what the medication was or why the gum was important. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if it was something like, "tell her that if she takes this disgusting medication, she gets to chew gum as a treat to get the nasty taste out of her mouth." I just remember feeling very self-righteous about being allowed to chew gum when the other kids couldn't. But it was definitely a situation where I had a doctor's note to chew gum in class.
posted by decathecting at 10:17 PM on December 17, 2010


Nthing "sensory integration disorder". It keeps the kids focused, and prevents more destructive habits, like chewing the tops of pens and pencils, or their fingers or fingernails, or their lips.
posted by Asparagirl at 12:46 AM on December 18, 2010


Aspergum? I think they stopped selling it a few years ago, but maybe the kid's parents have a stockpile.
posted by ValkoSipuliSuola at 8:45 AM on December 18, 2010


I'm also assuming it's for a sensory processing issue like Aspergers; either for focusing or to help them keep from chewing their clothes/fingers. Or maybe they're taking a medication that causes dry mouth?

Also, if you ask the teacher they will probably only be able to generalize why the child is allowed to do so since IEP accommodations are confidential.
posted by Wuggie Norple at 6:08 PM on December 18, 2010


Response by poster: Thanks, everyone. I had not thought about the behavioral/sensory possibility, but, given what else I have heard about the kid, this makes the most sense.
posted by Mid at 6:22 PM on December 19, 2010


As a kid they would sometimes let us chew sugarless gum after taking inhaled steroids, as they can dry out the mouth and subsequently cause tooth decay.
posted by SassHat at 10:18 AM on December 20, 2010


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