Generally, chewing pencils is considered a childish behavior pattern, which one knows mainly from one’s own school days. However, adults are also afflicted by this habit from time to time. Especially people who sit at their desks a lot and have to concentrate on their work for a long time are tempted to nibble at the end of their pencils. Lost in thought, the end of the pencil wanders unnoticed toward the mouth and the nibbling starts. Over time, some of the “pencil chewers” develop a guilty conscience because they fear that they will damage their teeth or even ingest toxic lead. But can chewing pencils actually cause lead poisoning?
Not lead, but graphite
No, the all-clear can be given here. Because the substance that gives the pencil its name is not contained in it at all. What gives the pencil its color is rather graphite – chemically a crystallized carbon and completely harmless for the notorious “chewer”. But how did this misunderstanding come about? Simply because centuries ago it was assumed that lead and graphite were the same thing. However, lead was never used for writing and so one can calmly put this fear on file.
Why do people chew pencils?
Regular pencil chewing can be a sign of psychosomatic tension. For many people, the pencil serves as a kind of outlet for stress relief. Especially during activities that require a high level of attention, the pencil is readily used. Lost in thought, some nibble the wooden outline down to the lead. Thus, pencil chewing can be observed especially during school lessons or in the office. And not without reason: it is said that chewing pencils even promotes concentration. But boredom, dreaminess and hunger can also be reasons for reaching for a pencil. Hardly anyone has not done it yet. However, pencil chewing becomes a cause for concern if teeth and jaws suffer as a result or if psychological stress is the underlying cause. If necessary, a doctor or psychotherapist should be consulted.
What about pencil chewing is harmful to health?
In addition to thumb sucking and nail biting, chewing pencils or other writing instruments can lead to deformation of the jaw during the growth process. That is why frequent chewing in childhood should be monitored and discussed with the dentist or orthodontist if necessary. During chewing, wood splinters can also detach from the pencil and drill into the gums. This can cause inflammation in the oral cavity. For small children in particular, there is a risk of brittle parts of the pencil being swallowed. Parents should therefore direct their attention especially to unbreakable writing and painting utensils.
Toxic varnishes in pencils
Since the early 1990s, well-known manufacturers have been using environmentally friendly water-based paints, or have dispensed with varnishing their pencils altogether. As a rule, therefore, the outer coating of the pencils should not be harmful to health. When buying colored pencils, make sure that the EU standard DIN EN 71 is noted on the packaging. This sets guideline values for the proportion of heavy metals and guarantees that the pencils are free of toxic dyes.
Tips for weaning off pencil chewing
To avoid falling back into the old pattern during the concentration phase, you can use the following tips and tricks as a guide:
- Instead of the pencil, better reach for nuts, fruit or chewing gum.
- Ensure an inner balance through concentration and relaxation exercises.
- Talk to your dentist and orthodontist, who usually have individual tips ready.
Until you are completely weaned, you can minimize the negative consequences of frequent chewing on pencils. Buy pencils with unbreakable leads as well as a natural wooden shaft.
Be careful with pencil covers
Another way to break the habit of chewing pencils is the idea of covering the end of the pencil with a sleeve, such as a rubber figure. There are many so-called pencil toppers and spring covers on the market, which are supposed to decorate the pencil additionally. However, these covers can easily be swallowed and should therefore be kept out of the reach of children. Many of the rubber figures are also made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a plastic that can contain carcinogenic plasticizers.Pencil covers are therefore less recommended for weaning off pencil chewing.
