Information AboutChewing Gum |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT CHEWING GUM | |
| confectionery | |
| gum | |
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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. 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 , Orbit , Bubble Yum , Trident , Chiclets , Bazooka , Super Bubble , Freedent , Dentyne, Bubblicious , Freshen Up Gum , Fusen Gum , Batook 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 Latex es (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 Gum s. Old gum bases were based on Latex es, Vegetable Gums like Chicle , Spruce Gum , or Mastic Gum . Alternative choices were Wax es, eg. Paraffin Wax and Beeswax . Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana and at Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company are studying the possibility of making gum base with biodegradable Zein (corn protein). {Link without Title} The approximate manufacturing methods are fairly constant between brands. The gum base is melted at a temperature of about 115 °C, until it has the , whose amount and grain size determines the Brittle ness of the result, Corn Syrup and/or Glucose which serve as Humectant s, coat the sugar particles and stabilize their Suspension , and keep the gum flexible, various softeners, Food Coloring s, Flavoring s, Preservative s and other Additives . The most flavors of chewing gum are in the mint variety, however the fruit variety is the fastest growing segment. The homogenized mixture is then poured onto cooling belts, and cooled with cold air. Extrusion , optionally rolling and cutting, and other mechanical shaping operations follow. The chunks of gum are then put aside to set for 24 to 48 hours. Coated chewing gums then undergo other operations. The chunks are wrapped with optional undercoating for better binding with outer layers then immersed into liquid Sugar . The pellets are then colored and coated with a suitable Glazing Agent , usually a wax. GUM AND SOCIETY Unusual for a Confectionery , chewing gum has some health benefits; Sugar-free chewing gum stimulates Saliva production, and helps to clean the surface of the Teeth , whilst even Sugar y gum may be helpful, as the sugar dissolves out very quickly. Chewing gum has also been identified with improving Memory according to various studies. Also, it is known that chewing gum increases blood flow to the brain by 25%. The chewing process expends 12 Calorie s per Hour (14 Milliwatts ) and chewing gum when travelling on an Aircraft can counteract the irritation caused by changes in Air Pressure . Gum containing the sugar alcohol Xylitol can help counteract Tooth Decay . When spat on the ground, chewing gum will stick firmly and can only be removed with great difficulty. For this reason, the sale of chewing gum has been prohibited in ) The notorious stickiness of dropped chewing gum is described:
An within their stomachs or intestines. Some people find these features of chewing gum irritating:
In '' Charlie And The Chocolate Factory '', there is a gum- Addicted girl called Violet Beauregarde . The British singer Lonnie Donegan achieved some success with his 1959 Novelty Song entitled ''Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour On The Bedpost Overnight?'' Michael Jordan would often chew gum during basketball games because he believed that it helped him concentrate. GUM AND MILITARY The U.S. Armed Forces have regulary supplied soldiers with chewing gum since World War I because it helped both to improve the soldiers' concentration and to relieve stress. Recent studies show chewing gum can also improve one's mood. As of 2005, the US military is sponsoring development of a chewing gum formulation with an Antibacterial agent, which should be able to replace conventional Oral Hygiene methods in the battlefield. {Link without Title} FOOTNOTES |
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