Gum Chewing

Nurses General Nursing

Published

What's everyone's opinions on chewing gum while on the job?

Just curious because I love to chew gum but I feel as though no one in my hospital does it. :eek:

People who smoke should chew a piece of gum before they return to work. Or brush your teeth. Or stop smoking.

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overall, i limit my gum chewing....

is it only me>>?? somehow, i feel that gum increases peristalsis thus increased fatulence :eek:

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Specializes in med/surg and Tele.

Geeze people, some of you who think gum chewing is an abomination to man kind need to just take a chill pill (dont chew it but swallow it). People its gum. No I will say it can be annoying when someone pops their gum all the time, but oter then that, lets worry about things that really need to be worried about. Like the dying man down the hall.

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Gum chewing has been proven to lower cortisol levels in the blood. It really does help, "chewing gum helped relieve anxiety, improve alertness and reduce stress", and keeps weight off as well. However, I do agree that chewing discreetly is warranted.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/119826.php

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I chew gum at work:

- It keeps me awake for my 12-14 hour noc shifts

- It gives me an outlet for stress instead of eating.

- I NEVER blow bubbles, crack it, chew with mouth open, etc. Yuck!

to each their own. As long as it doesn't negatively affect me or compromise pt safety, I couldn't care less what other RNs do.

I have much bigger fish to fry, as one poster already stated. I barely have time to pee or eat, let alone check people for gum. :lol2:

Cheers,

Diane, RN

I agree and do the same thing Diane - I think you can carefully chew gum and have fresh breath for the patient's sake.

I was bending over an elderly patient asking her questions once and she screwed her face and yelled "Your breath stinks!!". :eek:

Never again - and just brushing my teeth and using mouth wash isn't enough on a busy day with no breaks and drinking coffee! Coffee breath is DEATH! :devil:

steph

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Gum chewing at work appears unprofessional IMO, do I chew it..yes. I enjoy chewing gum, does anyone see me, rarely if ever. A little trick of tucking under the tongue when around someone or talking always worked for me :)

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

Anyone who has time to worry about gum chewing has too much time on their hands. Give me a stinkin break. Geeze.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
for those of you.....

no, not the gum in my mouth (what were you thinking...lol), i gave a new stick!

glad you clarified. i just had my finger poised over the "e" key, followed closely by a whole bunch of 'w" s. :)

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Erghhhh

We were taught (back when I did a physiology course which required us to perform multiple dissections of the human body) that the formaldehyde exposure (look up what that can cause for yourself if you don't already know *shudder*) from aspartame is significant so gum chewing should be minimised and also its a massive hygiene/health risk as it likes to "absorb" various chemical vapours (Including more formaldehyde) and germs... I don't know how true the absorption part of the story is but I still refuse to touch the stuff to this day! Breath mint/listerine on break XD

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Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.

ya...I chew gum occasionally

na...I don't have a nurse's station, just my car

and most of my patients or families probably never realize that I have gum in my mouth even though I spend an hour or more with them. First because that is not their priority and second because I chew it...I don't make noise or play with it. And if I am speaking it is tucked away.

Apparently students from kindergarten to nursing school are taught the evils of chewing gum. In the real world we get to make choices based upon our own needs, influenced by the teachers of our lives.

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Specializes in LTC.

I don't mind if coworkers chew gum as long as it is quietly. I use breath mints at work for coffee breath. (I snap, crackle and pop when I chew gum)

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I'm all about gum.

GUM GUM GUM!!!

Listerine strips don't really help get that saliva flowing. Just sorta keeps the mouth dry... yuck.

Those who find it "disgusting" are............I'm a-gonna say it......... a little uppity.

Remove the Trident from your butt.

The debate over gum makes me think of Roald Dahl. He didn't think much of it either, did he? But...

I'm with Violet Beauregarde.

"Saaaaaay, what is this? Some sort-a freak-out or somethin'??"

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