Chewing gum

By: Alternix

History and Origins of Chewing Gum

Chewing gum has a long history, with evidence of its existence in many early civilizations.
The Mayans and Aztecs used chicle, a natural tree gum, to make a gum-like substance.
Ancient Greeks chewed mastic gum, made from the resin of the mastic tree.
Chewing gum has been made from various natural substances, such as birch bark tar and chicle.
Birch bark tar gum, dating back 5,000 years, was found in Finland and is believed to have antiseptic properties.
Mastic gum, made from the resin of the mastic tree, was used by the Ancient Greeks for oral health.

The modernization and commercialization of chewing gum took place mainly in the United States.
The first commercial chewing gum, called The State of Maine Pure Spruce Gum, was developed in 1848.
The commercialization of chewing gum mainly took place in the United States.
Paraffin wax gum was developed around 1850 and became more popular than spruce gum.
Chewing gum gained worldwide popularity through American GIs in WWII.
Synthetic gums were introduced after chicle was no longer sufficient.
US manufacturers switched to butadiene-based synthetic rubber in the 1960s.
Chewing gum experienced a decline in popularity in the early 21st century.

Gum base is the main component of chewing gum, consisting of resin, wax, and elastomer.
Sweeteners, such as sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners, provide initial and prolonged sweetness.
Glycerine is added to maintain moistness in the gum.
Softeners/plasticizers are added to increase flexibility and reduce brittleness.
Flavors, in liquid or powder form, are added for taste and sensory appeal.
Gum base is prepared through melting and straining or filtering.
Other ingredients like sweeteners and flavors are added to the gum base.
Mixing process heats the gum base to achieve uniform dispersion of ingredients.
Extrusion technology is used to smooth, form, and shape the gum.
Different shaping processes are used based on gum type and consumer demand.

Chewing gum improves cognitive functioning in domains such as working memory, episodic memory, and speed of perception.
Chewing gum induces arousal and can enhance cognitive functioning.
Chewing gum has a domain-specific effect and does not improve verbal fluency.
Chewing gum does not cause tooth decay and can reduce cavities and plaque.
Xylitol, a sweetener in sugar-free gum, inhibits Streptococcus mutans bacteria that contribute to tooth decay.
Sorbitol is less effective than xylitol in reducing cavities and plaque.
Other sugar substitutes like maltitol, aspartame, and acesulfame K do not cause tooth decay.
Chewing gum with fluoride strengthens tooth enamel.
Calcium lactate added to gum or toothpaste can reduce calculus formation.

Chewing gum is not water-soluble and is often improperly disposed of, sticking to surfaces such as sidewalks, benches, and handrails.
Removing gum from these surfaces is difficult, time-consuming, and expensive.
High pedestrian traffic areas often show a high incidence of casual gum discard.
Many schools do not allow chewing gum due to inappropriate disposal, distractions, and potential health risks.
In 1992, the Singapore government banned chewing gum due to cleanliness and safety concerns.
Chewing gum bans in schools and countries aim to address issues related to cleanliness, safety, and distractions.
The ban in Singapore has resulted in a gum-free environment in the city.
Chewing gum litter is the second most common form of litter, after cigarette litter.
British designer Anna Bullus developed a method to collect and recycle chewing gum into plastic.
The recycled gum is used to make various plastic objects, such as collection containers, shoe soles, and plastic cups.

Reference	URL
Glossary	https://www.alternix.com/blogs/glossary-of-terms/chewing-gum
Wikipedia	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chewing_gum
Wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q130878
Knowledge Graph	https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/01qcsb