Some parents allow their children to chew on teething biscuits (beware, some of these can be messy), frozen waffles or cool firm slices of fruit.

CNN: How can I soothe a teething baby's gums?

Some patients may chew right through the plastic.

CNN: Don't let stress be such a grind

And there are some high-powered issues to chew over - the balance of power between the Commons and the new Senate (or whatever it is to be called), the proportion to be elected or appointed, the presence of the Church of England bishops (excluding them would come close to disestablishment of the state church, so antidisestablishmentarianism may become a factor) and much, much more.

BBC: Lords reform looks set to snarl up the Commons

Maybe it is because the men have preciously tucked away under their arms their fresh bundles of qaat, the stimulant that some of them have already started to chew.

NPR: Somalia's Farah: Humanizing a Broken Place

But, until then, western ranchers will stick with their trusty electric branding irons, some good neighbours to help, and a chew of tobacco.

ECONOMIST: Branding in the west

Some fear the ICC has already bitten off more than it can chew.

ECONOMIST: The worst crimes, the law and the UN Security Council