A couple of weeks ago, I reminded our readers that people living with dementia are not children.  In the blog, “When Knives Are A Good Idea”, I remind us that people with dementia (until very late stage) retain the ability, and the desire, to engage in familiar activities within the home, even activities with an element of risk such as chopping vegetables with a sharp knife.

I’d like to suggest that we apply the same thinking, that our folks with dementia are not children, to the idea of chewing (sugar-free) gum.

When we give a child a piece of chewing gum, we wonder where that chewed gum might end up.  Under the edge of the kitchen table perhaps?  Under the edge of their nice leather seat in the car, or better yet, smashed into the fibers of the couch?  Or maybe we worry it will end up in the tummy of our children?

But people with dementia are well beyond those concerns.  They have already learned how to chew and dispose of chewing gum safely and appropriately.  

So, I am suggesting that it may be a really good idea, for a couple of reasons I will explain below, for people living with dementia to chew away on that sugar-free chewing gum.

One of the most common issues I see with people living with dementia is poor oral hygiene.  You see, quite early in the process of diminishing cognitive skills, folks forget to brush their teeth.  Or they believe they have brushed their teeth when they actually have not.  And because there is often a loss of sense of smell, there may well also be a change in the sense of taste; we see lots of people with dementia eating more sweets than before dementia began to change their ability to make good decisions.

So chewing gum; well, it’s not a replacement for brushing teeth, but it is better than nothing at all, and may help provide some tooth cleaning.  There are studies that suggest that chewing sugar free gum is good for our teeth and our gums; it’s sure worth a try. 

The other big benefit is highlighted by the science within my training as an Occupational Therapist.  We know that our bodies have several “sensing” mechanisms, and the deep pressure mechanism is called “proprioception”.  This sense allows our body to know where it is in space and works by sensing deep pressure input through our muscles and joints.  Chewing, therefore, provides that deep pressure feedback for our oral motor system.  And, I believe, could be an important piece in helping preserve oral motor skills and language skills when dementia makes more of an impact.

Every one of my companions with dementia readily accept my offer of a piece of sugar-free gum.  I suspect that chewing gum is reminiscent of their long-ago days, and comes with good emotions.  Any excuse to breed good emotion is a big win in the world of dementia.

If you see me out and about with one of my friends with dementia, you just might see us chewing away, or maybe even blowing bubbles, with that good ole’ sugar-free chewing gum.

Always looking for good ideas for my friends with dementia and their families,

Jill

P.S.  If your loved one with dementia can’t help but make loud obnoxious noises when they chew gum, well, maybe keep gum chewing to an activity done in the privacy of your home.  Most folks with dementia also have hearing loss, and limited awareness and diminished social filters, so they may not be aware of the noise they are making.  

And nowhere in the studies do researchers recommend any gum other than sugar-free gum.  I agree.  Our folks with dementia do not need more sugar in their mouth and hanging around on their teeth.  

©Jill Couch