Chewing at pens can expose you to germs
Rita likes chewing pens! She deformed all the pens in the house and says she cannot avoid it.
By Rashida Nandawula
Rita likes chewing pens! She deformed all the pens in the house and says she cannot avoid it.
“Friends stopped lending me their pens, but it is not my fault!†she said.
Dr. Umar Omoro, a nutritionist at Louis Memorial Clinic on Clement Hill Road said assuming all other factors are constant, pen chewing may pose no harm.
“It is like using plastic plates and cups,†he said.
But what are those factors people who chew pens have to deal with?
Hygiene
Omoro says under unhygienic condition, chewing pens can spread germs and infections like cholera and dysentery.
“There is no way to ensure that the pen nib you are chewing is not contaminated,†he said.
Cholera is caused by swallowing the bacteria, vibrio cholerae, from faeces. Someone with poor toilet manners may lend you a pen which may find its way into your mouth. Other infections which may come in this way include diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid and other rotavirus infections.
Pens are another vector of stomach worms. Umar says some worms are transferable through dirt beneath our nails, poorly-washed utensils and other poor hygiene practices like chewing pens.
Influenza
Imagine a person with flu, sneezes into his hands before picking up a pen, which later ends up in your mouth.
Safety regulations of clinical laboratories state that every attendant must take precautions which include not to eat, drink, smoke or chew pens in the laboratory. Items in laboratories are exposed to micro-organisms used in the tests, chemicals, germs, permanent stains and caustic substances.
Ulcers
Omoro adds that chewing pens may expose you to stomach ulcers.
“As the tongue ‘caresses’ the pen subconsciously, saliva collects into the mouth inciting stomach enzymes to be released expecting food,†he said. “But when this food is not produced in time, the enzymes may begin digesting the stomach walls, causing ulcers.
Allergy
Some people get allergy triggered off by a chemical nickel found in plastic pen components. Omoro says 40% of nickel allergies come from ingesting nickel from food and chewing pens.
If you must chew pens
Omoro advises that if you must chew pens, observe personal hygiene and make sure you are not allergic to nickel or lead.
Dr. Paul Famba, a psychologist at Wilsodent clinic on Wilson Road says chewing pens may be a symptom of stress. Such people can use no-sugar gum to satisfy a chewing craving.
Famba says they should deal with the stress-inducing factors or see a professional counsellor.
“They can also try carrots or apple chunks,†he said.
Rita likes chewing pens! She deformed all the pens in the house and says she cannot avoid it.
“Friends stopped lending me their pens, but it is not my fault!†she said.
Dr. Umar Omoro, a nutritionist at Louis Memorial Clinic on Clement Hill Road said assuming all other factors are constant, pen chewing may pose no harm.
“It is like using plastic plates and cups,†he said.
But what are those factors people who chew pens have to deal with?
Hygiene
Omoro says under unhygienic condition, chewing pens can spread germs and infections like cholera and dysentery.
“There is no way to ensure that the pen nib you are chewing is not contaminated,†he said.
Cholera is caused by swallowing the bacteria, vibrio cholerae, from faeces. Someone with poor toilet manners may lend you a pen which may find its way into your mouth. Other infections which may come in this way include diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid and other rotavirus infections.
Pens are another vector of stomach worms. Umar says some worms are transferable through dirt beneath our nails, poorly-washed utensils and other poor hygiene practices like chewing pens.
Influenza
Imagine a person with flu, sneezes into his hands before picking up a pen, which later ends up in your mouth.
Safety regulations of clinical laboratories state that every attendant must take precautions which include not to eat, drink, smoke or chew pens in the laboratory. Items in laboratories are exposed to micro-organisms used in the tests, chemicals, germs, permanent stains and caustic substances.
Ulcers
Omoro adds that chewing pens may expose you to stomach ulcers.
“As the tongue ‘caresses’ the pen subconsciously, saliva collects into the mouth inciting stomach enzymes to be released expecting food,†he said. “But when this food is not produced in time, the enzymes may begin digesting the stomach walls, causing ulcers.
Allergy
Some people get allergy triggered off by a chemical nickel found in plastic pen components. Omoro says 40% of nickel allergies come from ingesting nickel from food and chewing pens.
If you must chew pens
Omoro advises that if you must chew pens, observe personal hygiene and make sure you are not allergic to nickel or lead.
Dr. Paul Famba, a psychologist at Wilsodent clinic on Wilson Road says chewing pens may be a symptom of stress. Such people can use no-sugar gum to satisfy a chewing craving.
Famba says they should deal with the stress-inducing factors or see a professional counsellor.
“They can also try carrots or apple chunks,†he said.