Isn't that why they invented polos? If you manage to get one of those stuck in your throat then all you suffer from is permanently minty breath!
On a slightly more serious note, I regularly chew while flying despite having a moment once in some bumpy air where I almost swallowed some chewing gum. I find the distraction of unwrapping sweets, opening drinks, etc... to be more risky than the choking potential.
Also, always remember to move your mic before taking a drink of water. I forgot this once and ended up with a soggy mic. Luckily it kept functioning, would have been a rather embarrassing comm failure!