Reblog - Swallowing Chewing Gum!

From time to time, I am choosing to reblog certain classic posts from the past.

Today I am taking us back to a post from a series I wrote in 2006 on parental myths. Actually, I spent the entire series dispelling the myths my parents tried to pass off as fact.

This is a favorite of many readers and one of my most downloaded posts of all time: Swallowing Chewing Gum

Hope you enjoy this blast from the past!

Quietly making noise,
Fletch

Parental Myth Proof

In the January 1998 issue of "Better Homes and Garden," I came across a great article called "The Real Truth About Health Myths." (page 58, for those who want to check it out).  Well, it just goes to show you that "real journalism" covers the same topics that I do.  Two of their covered myths were "Chewing gum takes 7 years to digest" and "Popping your Knuckles causes Arthritis."  I just want to point out that I broke both of these myths wide open way before BH&G.  Once again, (as if I need to remind you) your constant reliable source of up-to-the minute medical information will continue to be this little piece of electric-news that I like to call, theMangoTimes.


Click here to read the other parental myths exposed!

Quietly making noise,
Fletch

Why Parental Myths Don't Work

I almost feel bad about uncovering these parental myths every month.  I know that some of you won't believe me, others may argue and still others will respond like a kid that hears the truth about the tooth fairy.  I really hate to burst your bubble, but someone has to set the record straight.  So, in the absence of further myths, I am choosing to stray from my usual lament and discuss a certain behavior modification technique used by parents to propigate the myths.  I refer to it as the "Some Kid From Iowa" technique.

Example: in order to prevent you from playing on an escalator, your parents may offer the following:  "I heard that some kid from Iowa was playing on the escalator at Sear's and got his feet sucked under the "teeth of the escalator."  it took hours to release him, and he ended up losing both feet." (In passing, they may emphasize that this happened because he was "playing" on the escalator in the first place.)  Note:  this story also depends on which form of vertical transportation you are riding with your parents in the mall (for example, it is interchangeable with the same kid getting stuck in an elevator because he pushed all of the buttons).

Once again, "this kid from Iowa" is another attempt by parents to dissuade you from absolute fun.  Really now, what is more fun in a department store than running the opposite way on an escalator.  Actually, if it weren't for the escalators and the "Carpet Sales" section (a.k.a.  tumbling central), what real purpose does the department store serve for a kid?  Like other techniques used in parental myths, little children have no way to access the truth and challenge their parents.  So, as far as we know, "some kid from Iowa" does exist and he did get his feet stuck in an escalator.

It's my assumption that this myth will eventually die out.  With the internet, we (as parents of the new millenium) must be much more creative in our dissuasive techniques (kids today have the ability to research and find out that "that kid from Iowa" is fake and there have been no escalator injuries or fatalities).

To conclude this months section, if you are unfamiliar with this "fake kid" technique (like my wife), just pay a little more attention on your next escalator ride.  I'm certain at least one adult will stumble (mostly mental) as they exit the moving staircase.  If you confront this person, you may find they also don't swallow their gum, swim after eating, or pop their knuckles.


Click here to read the other parental myths exposed!

Quietly making noise,
Fletch

Parental Myths #7: Raw Dough and Worms

Parental Myth #7:  Eating Raw Dough Will Give You Worms

This one is fairly straight forward.  We know that the raw eggs in dough can cause salmonella (yes a nasty sickness, vile indeed).  But, the raw cookie dough will not inoculate you with intestinal parasites, nor saturate you with squirmy worms.  If you want my personal opinion, this myth was started by a frustrated mother.  While trying to get children to leave her alone in the kitchen, she finally had enough.  Rather than lose her cool with these little ones she probably blurted out something like, "I told you to keep your fingers out of the cookie dough.  If you eat that stuff before it's cooked, it will give you worms."  And thus, the genesis of yet another parental myth. E'nuf said


Click here to read the other parental myths exposed!

Quietly making noise,
Fletch

Parental Myths #6: Cold Weather Leads to Illness

Parental Myth #6 :  Cold Weather Leads to Illness

Once again, let's begin by looking at the method to their madness :  In the winter there are more colds, so they assume that air temperature/conditions are the cause of colds and flu.  And how do they begin their assault?  with a typical parental statement,  "You better put on a sweater, I don't want you to catch cold..."
Straight and simple, sickness is not caused by temperature fluctuation in your body.

You may ask yourself, how do I (a dentist) know this?  Easy.  Several years ago I was watching an old Geraldo episode.  He allowed himself to be placed in a deep freezer for an extended period of time.  His core body temperature dropped, he then exercised in the freezer (causing himself to sweat extensively) and then he cooled down in the freezer.  He even slept in the freezer (in a sleeping bag) and then walked out to be observed for several days.  Voila!  No cold...no flu...no nuthin'.  Any 1st year med student can tell you that viruses/bacteria cause infection.

Now...I will offer this side point for parents everywhere :  rest and warmth (try saying this word without pronouncing a "p," which doesn't even exist in the spelling) will help you recover and I wouldn't recommend lawn mowing in the nude when you have a sore throat.  But, in the absence of viral activity, a blustery day without an umbrella/jacket will not cause illness.

So, this winter join me in my underwear as I dance through puddles, roller skate in your bikini this January, or as you prepare to leave the house and you hear that little voice...ignore it and go sweater-less.


Click here to read the other parental myths exposed!


Quietly making noise,
Fletch