Gum is seen as the bad guy in elementary and middle schools, but high school students can get a wealth of benefits from chewing gum in class. Recently, the school store re-opened before and after school–and business is brisk.  The school store could help by selling gum. My opinion is that high school students need more access to gum.

Benefits from chewing gum

Many people chew gum to get rid of the “ear popping” sensation when on a plane, when they feel dizzy, or help quitting bad habits, like biting nails and smoking cigarettes. Personally, I chew gum every day to ease my stress and focus more. It actually works. The American Dental Association (ADA) concluded that chewing gum can:

• Help you focus
• Improve memory
• Cure a headache
• Fight nausea
• Ease anxiety and stress
• Protect teeth (sugarless)
• Help with a sore throat (spearmint/peppermint)
• Boost your confidence

Myth about gum rotting teeth

Sugar free gum doesn’t rot your teeth; it actually supports your teeth and has the exact same taste as gum with sugar. The ADA concluded chewing sugarless gum reduces plaque, gingivitis, cavities, and promotes tooth enamel. This is because the chewing gum increases saliva flow. This gets rid of acid on teeth which causes tooth decay. Some gum has even been proven to help whiten your teeth. Just be sure to be chewing sugar free gum for these extra benefits.

How selling gum would work

Selling gum in school isn’t complicated and would benefit the school. Sophomore Eli Smith said, “The school would make more money selling gum.”

I think students and teachers should be allowed to buy gum in the morning and after lunch with all other snacks. Kids will need gum in the morning after drinking coffee and eating breakfast. During lunch, kids would buy gum for after eating. The school cafeteria could sell it in many flavors at first like peppermint, spearmint, cinnamon, and at the end of the month conclude which flavor is purchased least. They should be sold at a reasonable price but enough to make a profit.

Respecting our school

Gum can help students in a lot of ways, but it can also end up causing some problems. This means school members are going to have to rely on people to act responsibly.

“Placing gum under desks and on walls is a form of vandalism,” said Assistant Principal Andrew McWilliams. This behavior would result in a referral. It could also be a real hassle for custodians who have to clean up gum.

Sharing gum…yikes

I realized an increase of gum packets in schools would also increase the question, “Can I have a piece of gum?” Sharing gum with a stranger can be really awkward, and there isn’t much anyone can do about this. My advice is don’t ask people for gum unless they offer it to you, so you don’t put them in an awkward position.

Don’t make gum the problem

One of biggest points of bringing gum is to help students focus, but when it becomes the distraction then it becomes a problem.

Guidance counselor, Ilana Blum said, “What would make kids throw their gum away in the trash?” She has a point.  If students can’t throw away their lunch trash, how can the staff be sure they will throw away their gum.

Final thoughts

The school should be considering every factor to support students academically, I strongly believe gum would help the school. I also think gum would help students.  In a short Lancer Media poll, 60% said they would buy gum without hesitation; 10% said it would depend on flavor and price. Even some teachers said that they would buy gum if it was available.  I think it could be a win-win situation.