sustitute for chewing gum

Posted by giselle2024 @giselle2024, Feb 24 2:36pm

We have a septic system and Mom puts her chewing gum down sinks & toilets. She doesn't have the ability to remember / understand this causes serious damage to the system. She won't give up the gum and trying to take it causes her to become nasty & aggressive. She will at times also keep it in her mouth while eating & drinking and won't get rid of it. She will also at times put the chewed gum on plates, spoons, glasses, etc.
Need a way to get it away from her and/or wean her off it and/or find substitute. Thx!

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immaggiemae | @immaggiemae | Feb 25 9:43am

If she keeps the gum in her mouth while eating and drinking it’s likely that she’s swallowing a good amount of the gum too. That’s not good for her plumbing! You didn’t mention what stage she is in, but if she’s starting to become nasty and aggressive, perhaps it’s time for her doctor to prescribe a medication that would calm her or at least even things out. I’m not sure what that would be, but swallowing a lot of gum could be a dangerous thing for both your septic system and her system.
With dementia, there isn’t any way for her to “learn” to throw the gum away. You could try diverting her behavior, maybe by offering another chewy food, but not sure what that would be. Chewing has a calming effect for most people.

centre | @centre | Feb 25 11:03am

Fastest way to protect your septic system is to stop buying the chewing gum. As maggiemae says, the focus is the chewing. Try going to one-stick popsicles- she can chew and chew, it’s just frozen juice so they’ll help her stay hydrated, there is sugar-free if she’s diabetic, if they’re dropped or dripped on clothing, no big deal, no danger to dental work, and you can make your own of her favorite juice.
Using a popsicle holder (see Amazon) or holding the stick herself, she can move it around in her mouth and chew and chew- it’s oral stimulation she’s seeking.
If you want to transition gradually, you can. I’m a fan of “just do it”, let the current stash of gum run out, offer the popsicles. A good reason for the holder is you can present it and just walk away. If she throws it, no big deal to clean up.
Without the gum, she’ll be angry, but you just live through it. Fixing or replacing a septic system is big money- my parents did it six years ago in NJ-$18,000, lots of EPA, state, county, and township rules and regulations to be followed. They also needed variances approved due to the rules/regs having changed from when the original one was installed. What a headache….

nathandavid | @nathandavid | Feb 25 6:29pm

Is there one certain sink or toilet she’ll put the gum down? If so, can you make that place inaccessible to her?

giselle2024 | @giselle2024 | Feb 26 1:00pm

Thank you all for your suggestions. She's on donepizel. Trying to get a neurologist out here in Okeechobee is next to impossible.
I also found there is biodegradable gum made from carnauba wax. Breaks down in about 2 weeks. One is called Nuud on Amazon. We'll try this one. There are a few others.