Chewing Gum

Chewing gum is a type of confectionery which is designed to be chewed, not swallowed. Traditionally, it was made of chicle, a natural latex product, although for reasons of economy many modern chewing gums use petroleum-based plastic instead of chicle. more...

Chicle is nonetheless still the base of choice for some "upscale" gum brands, as well as some regional markets, such as in Japan.

Types

The standard type of gum is a small stick or wad of gum. Gum comes in a variety of flavors, depending on location and is most often chewed for the flavor. Some brands of gum are: Wrigley's, Dubble Bubble, Orbit, Bubble Yum, Trident, Chiclets, Bazooka, Super Bubble, Freedent, Bubblicious, Fusen Gum and many others.

Nicotine gum is designed especially for people who are trying to quit smoking. The gum contains a small amount of nicotine to combat cravings, and gives the former smoker something to do besides hold a cigarette in their mouth.

Several types of gum are designed specifically for dental hygiene. There are gums to whiten teeth, clean teeth, and freshen breath.

Composition and manufacture

The chewing gum is made of a "gum base" with added food coloring and flavoring. The exact composition of gum bases is usually a trade secret, but common ingredients can be latexes (eg. leche, caspi, sorva, nispero, tunu, jelutong, or chicle, which is still commercially produced), paraffin wax or beeswax, polyethylene, polyvinyl acetate, stearic acid, and various natural gums.

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