Chewelry or Chewable Jewelry is just that, jewelry which can be chewed. People have a craving for chewing non-food items. It is a compulsive behavior or craving which can be satisfied using chewelry.
What is Chewelry used for? Chewelry or chewable jewelry is used to control the craving to chew on items such as pencils, shirts, dirt, toys. Chewelry helps to regulate, calm and focus the individual and is very therapeutic.
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Reasons for using Chewlry
- Unable to Eat – G-Tube can be used by individuals who cannot eat with their mouth but have an intense desire to chew on something
- Teach Oral Skills – Speech therapists find chewelry handy to teach Oral Motor Skills such as chewing in a rotatory motion or for strengthening the jaw
- Aid to help Quit Smoking
- Diet Aid to help lose weight
- Helps kids with Autism
- Support speech in individuals with special needs
- Provides a Sensory Filter
- Strengthens Oral and Facial Muscles
Is Chewing common in kids or adults?
Both kids and adults can find that they can get sucked into the habit of chewing on literally everything. This is so true especially in children.
Adults might bite their fingernails, tap their foot incessantly ( maybe due to stress and anxiety).
Why do they Chew on everything?
In kids, there are many causes of chewing behaviour or let’s say reasons they chew
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Proprioceptive Sensory Needs
- Oral needs
You might also notice other kinds of behaviour in your child
- Thumb sucking
- Sucking collar of shirts
- Chewing on whatever objects they can get a hold of, including things from the floor
- Grinding their teeth
- Chewing Nails, pencils, erasers
Is Chewing on things okay?
Well, in my opinion, it is okay if it relieves and reassures the individual. ( Mind you these are my thoughts and I am not a medical professional )
I find it safer and hygienic to have an item that can be used for chewing such as chewelry.
Chewing can be effective in helping the person calm down and self regulate. This is known as the Motor Plan in Kids.
I used to have the tendency to chew on things especially pencils. I did find that others would not do that, but it never occurred to me that I was doing something not considered natural.
It totally relaxes you and helps shift the focus off of stuff. I guess this kind of distraction helps calms the nerves.
Why do I chew on things?
I read up on a forum how a mother was concerned that her son was chewing on numerous things. It can be very scary for parents … I actually found it reassuring that there were other s out, just as scared and concerned as I was.
Chewing and biting on things is common in babies, that is the way they explore the world around them.
The problem is when babies grow up and still continue chewing things.
I personally do not feel this is wrong. But other people can be irritated by it.
They might find it disgusting or unhygienic. It definitely is unhygienic and I feel chewelry will help satisfy this urge in constructive ways.
| Pain Point | Issue | Solution |
| Autism / Sensory Processing Disorder | Excessive stimulation can cause discomfort and pain | Self Stimulation / Stimming can help people manage the extrasensory stimulations |
| Proprioception or Sixth Sense | Affects sense of position, effort, force, heaviness, such as oral hyposensitivity – the inability to sense in the mouth | Wake up your mouth, chew on foods, and use chewelry to awaken the sensation |
| Lack of Concentration | Distracted easily, unable to focus | Use Chewelry to activate muscles in the jaw. This will provide stability and grounding. As per arktherapeutic this ishelpful for children with decreased motor planning. |
| PICA | Eating disorder where non food items such as dirt, paint, plastics are ingested – Read More | Consult a Medical Professional. Chewelry can provide temporary relief |
| Teething | When teeth start to erupt for babies, especially the molars, kids chew on anything to get relief | Teething rings and Chewelry can help. This will no longer be an issue once teeth emerge |
| Bored | Other than the potential embarrassment and the possibility of ingesting harmful stuff, I don’t think there is any | Chewelry can help with this feeling of being bored…it just focuses your attention on some mindless chewing |
So why do people chew? I have been reading up a lot as similar behaviour traits are there in my close family as well.
I liked when one website article mentioned that it is not that someone wants to chew, but they need to chew.
I remember fighting and defending a family member’s actions of compulsive chewing on shirts, collars, and toys.
Relatives and well-wishers would “advise” the kid to stop chewing.
I would literally be trying not to scream…. I know that the person cannot control the behaviour. It was satisfying some need and providing comfort.
They might not be even aware they are chewing, they might be aware and want to stop but are unable to… the bottom line is that they feel they just cannot stop.
It can be a behavioral issue… it can be sensory related. When it is sensory-related, they will not be able to stop chewing.
Telling my family member to stop actually worsened the chewing, it also caused feelings of guilt, shame, sadness.
I personally would chew on pencil tops – a LOT. I did not want to – it was totally embarrassing.
I wanted to stop so badly – but then I just felt compelled to.
It was embarrassing. I was always afraid another kid would ask if they could borrow my pencil and find that I had chewed it like crazy.
I remember feeling hurt and sad when asked to stop it.
Recently I found out chewelry is available and this can curb such behavior. I also heard chewable pencil tops are available in the market.
Include – What is Chewelry made of?
Usually, chewelry are designed exactly like normal jewelry and mainly comprises of chewable bracelets and necklaces. They are made up of FDA approved food materials and do not contain any heavy metals such as phthalates, lead or BPAs. Mainly they are made up of thermoplastic elastomers which are non-toxic, rubbery and flexible.
Include – How to choose the right Chewelry?
If you are a mild chewer, you can opt for a soft chewelry. For those who chew through things, go for something firmer.
If you have heavy oral sensory needs and you chew through legos, wooden pencils and blocks you need to purchase the extra firm Chewelry.
As an example, I used to chew through pencil tops. A soft chewelry will provide no satisfaction for me. I need to extra firm kind.
I don’t know how this happens but I think the chewing desire does stop over time. I naturally stopped chewing on pencils.
My family member stopped chewing on collars, legos and clothes.
This has made me believe that once we feel more safe and secure, you tend to overcome the desire to chew …maybe… I am no medical expert…
There is another criterion for deciding which Chewelry to use. Depending on which tooth you use for chewing you can decide on the perfect Chewelry for you.
| Teeth used to Chew | Type of Chewelry |
| Back Molars | Long and slender Chewelry can be used. This will reach the back Molars. This kind of Chewelry is also suitable for people who tend to grind their teeth. |
| Front Teeth or Incisors | Those chewing with front teeth should look into appropriate Chewelry for front teeth. Almost all types of Chewelry can be used for those who chew with their front teeth. |
These are great for people who chew with back teeth / molars.
If you chew on your pencil, then this one is perfect for you.
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