Kinds of Chewing Gum

Chewing gum isn't just for freshening breath after a spicy meal; in fact it has developed significantly since it was first patented in 1869 by dentist William F. Semple. From as far back as A.D. 50 when the Greeks chewed a form of tree resin called mastiche, chewing gum has been used to freshen breath and clean teeth. Over time, manufacturers have developed many different kinds of chewing gum for various purposes and preferences.

Bubble Gum

• Bubble gum is a type of chewing gum that allows the chewer to use it to blow bubbles. It was invented in 1928 by an accountant named Walter Diemer. The original color for bubble gum was pink, however it now comes in a variety of colors as well as different flavors. It is available as either regular or sugar-free gum. Although bubble gum can come in rope, chunk or molded shapes, according to San Diego Miramar College, the most common bubble gum form is stick.

Nicotine Gum

• Nicotine gum is a type of functional gum. Functional gums are gums that have some health benefit or purpose other than the enjoyment of the gum. Nicotine gum's function, or purpose, is to assist in smoking cessation. A small amount of nicotine is released when the user chews the gum. The combination of chewing and nicotine is meant to lessen the person's desire to smoke a cigarette and to reduce side effects of nicotine withdrawal. Nicotine gum is not meant to be a long-term solution and its use should be gradually reduced after two to three months.

Sugar-Free Gum

• Sugar-free gum is made with artificial sweeteners instead of sugar. The goal of this type of gum is to reduce tooth decay. Sugar alcohols such as xylitol, sorbitol and mannitol are used in place of sugar. These sugar alcohols prevent dental plaque bacteria from producing decay-promoting acid by stimulating saliva which rinses away the acid and by starving the bacteria of glucose. Sugar-free gums that contain sugar alcohol are considered to be a functional gum. The American Dental Association has given its seal of approval to certain sugar-free gums that contain these non-cavity-producing sweeteners.

Gum Ball

• Gum balls are round balls of candy-coated gum that are most often found in vending machines. The first gum balls and gum ball machines were made in 1907. Gum balls come in many different sizes with some machines dispensing gum balls as large as 2 inches. Gum balls are made by running cylindrical pieces of gum through a machine that creates the ball shape. After being left to dry and harden, the gum balls receive a coating of flavor and color, after which they are again dried and rolled in wax to give them their shiny outer shell. While most gumballs contain sugar, some sugar-free gumballs are available.