Why Gum Chewing Should Be Allowed in School

Why Gum Chewing Should Be Allowed In School Some would have you believe that gum chewing is a nasty habit and that it should be banned from schools. At SAS it is banned--- just like it is banned in all of Singapore. However, chewing gum should be allowed--- promoted in fact--- because of the many significant benefits of gum chewing. Not only does it improve oral hygiene, but it also improves concentration and mental ability. In addition, through expecting students to not abuse gum chewing by sticking it under chairs or throwing it on the ground, it teaches responsible behavior and citizenship. One way gum chewing is beneficial is because it improves oral health. Since schools spend a lot of time educating students and promoting proper health, it makes sense that they should encourage good health by allowing students to chew gum. Chewing gum improves oral hygiene because it increases saliva production which flushes away the acid and bacteria on your teeth after you eat. The American Dental Association says on its Web site that "chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes following meals can help prevent tooth decay". This can also help with school in general because if students have healthy teeth, they won’t be taking time out of school to go to the dentist. This sounds like a great and easy way to keep parents, students and teachers happy---parents will pay less dentist bills, students will have less dentist visits, and kids will miss less school. Picture this: You’re taking a test and you’re getting all stressed about it. You don’t remember the answers. What can help you in this situation---gum. Gum chewing not only reduces stress, but it also improves alertness and memory. Gum chewing provides an outlet for releasing tension which then relaxes students. This means they can better focus on their tests. The act of chewing also increases blood flow to the brain which improves memory. "Chewing gum is an easy tool students can use for a potential academic edge,"