gum

Everyday

1. Gum, or chewing gum, is a soft sweet you chew for a long time but do not swallow. tree →
2. Your gums are the pink flesh in your mouth that holds your teeth. tree →
3. Gum is also a sticky substance from some trees, or a kind of glue. tree →

In the lessons

In health lessons, brushing gently along the gums keeps them healthy; red or bleeding gums can mean you need to brush better and see the dentist. In everyday life and school rules, chewing gum is often not allowed in class, and gum must go in the bin, not on the pavement or under desks. In Australia, a gum tree is a eucalyptus tree. Phrases: chewing gum, bubble gum, sugar-free gum, gum disease, gum tree.

Examples

• Please put your gum in the bin. tree →
• Brush your teeth and your gums twice a day. tree →
• He blew a big bubble with his bubble gum. tree →
• There was gum stuck under the desk. tree →
• My gums hurt where the new tooth is coming in. tree →
• Koalas eat the leaves of gum trees. tree →
• Chewing gum is not allowed in class. tree →
• Sugar-free gum is better for your teeth. tree →

Note

Chewing gum is uncountable (some gum, a piece of gum, a stick of gum); gums in the mouth are usually plural. Swallowing gum by accident is not dangerous; the myth that it stays in your stomach for seven years is false. Small children can choke on gum.