Chewing-gum, candies, colored sugar-coated sugared almonds, lollipops… A whole vast assortment of “foods” to suck, chew, munch, puff up that attracts children like honey bees. Despite, therefore, the contrary opinion of nutritionists and dentists, it is often practically impossible for parents to prevent children from putting a gum or a sugar in their mouth. They can limit its consumption, not completely abolish it. And, therefore, how to behave in this regard?
First, it is it is essential to delay the consumption of these sweets as much as possible. For very young children (2/3/4 years) candy should never be offered on any occasion and grandparents and relatives should be prevented from giving them as a reward for good behavior or as a reward for achieving a good result. Chewing gum is even more dangerous: the presence of sugars is, in fact, very high and is often the main responsible for the formation of caries. This is why dentists recommend that children always brush their teeth after they have eaten sugared almonds and chewing gum. It would then be totally forbidden to consume it in the evening, after dinner and before going to sleep.
Attention also to artificial sweeteners which according to some research could have a laxative effect and to essential oils, present above all in butts, believed to be responsible for various forms of food allergies.
The confectionery industry has for some years put on the market chewing gum and sugar-free candies that not only do not cause tooth decay, but even delay its formation. The opinion of doctors on this subject is conflicting but, beyond what their response is, we ask ourselves: is it really essential that a child spend the whole day sucking and chewing even if he were a ruminant? To keep tooth decay and plaque away, wouldn’t it be better to accustom children to always brushing their teeth after eating by establishing this good hygiene rule not only in nursery schools (where it often happens) but also in elementary and middle schools?
The objection could be that, since the consumption of these products is quite widespread among children, it is better as far as possible to limit the damage. It may be, but educating children to have respect for themselves and to take care of their health is the task of educators and parents who should, therefore, work together to make this bad habit of constantly chewing obsolete.
To underline, then, that chewing-gum and candies often contain dyes (for example E171) whose effects are unknown. Reading the labels therefore becomes essential in this case to exclude from the purchase products and brands whose ingredients are unknown or unclear.
Finally, what to do if a child swallows one or more tires? In reality, there is little that can be done. Like any food, butts, once in the digestive system, are broken down by gastric juices and then excreted with the feces. If, however, the quantity swallowed is high this process could be slowed down and become the cause of constipation phenomena of which the causes are not known. The advice, then? Never give chewing gum and gummy candies, as we said above, to children under the age of 5.