Chew Gum to Avoid Ear Infections

After my son suffered through a few ear infections while in kindergarten, our Doctor recommended letting our son chew gum along with a dose of our choice of kids' cold medicine the next time the sniffles were coming on.

His reasoning? Unlike an adult, whose tubes have hardened up, a child's ear tubes are flexible and collapse easily under a lot of drainage (like when having a normal cold) If the fluid cannot drain, an ear infection is sure to come. Chewing the gum will help keep the tubes open, allowing for drainage and possibly avoiding infections. We did it, kept on doing it through the years and he never had another ear infection. He's now in high school. Definitely worth asking your own Doctor about.

Of course this isn't an option if your child still swallows gum! Mine didn't, but I still kept a close eye on him while he chewed it. Good time to read a book or watch a movie together.

Source: Our family doctor

By Cakeluv from Henry, TN