Chewing gum, popularly referred to as chewing gum, is a lifesaver in every person’s daily life.
Sometimes it happens that some situations make it impossible to brush your teeth. Or you need to refresh your breath before a business meeting or date. At such moments, chewing gum comes to the rescue.
Although not everyone is delighted with her. Some question the chemical composition of chewing gum. But is chewing gum so harmful?
History of occurrence
The origin of chewing gum is rooted in the distant past, namely, the first mention of it appeared 5000 years ago in ancient Greece.
The Greeks, as well as the inhabitants of the Middle East, brushed their teeth by chewing rubber and gum. So these funds can be safely called the first prototypes of chewing gum.
But the origin of chewing gum, which is approximately reminiscent of the real one, dates back to 1848. Of course, it is strikingly different from the modern one. The basis for chewing gum, the composition - all this was based on rubber. Yes, and she looked different.
Its creator was John Curtis, an Englishman who created resin chewing gum with the addition of beeswax. He cut it in portions into small pieces, wrapped in paper and put up for sale. A little later, Curtis added spices and paraffin to his invention, which gave the chewing gum a flavor. Although all this did not save the situation, the chewing gum did not withstand the heat and sunlight in any way and in a short time lost its presentation.
Chewing gum, whose composition was very primitive, underwent some changes only in 1884. The author of the improved chewing gum was Thomas Adams.
His first chewing gum was endowed with an elongated shape and licorice flavor, which, however, was short-lived. It was decided to fix the problem by adding sugar and corn syrup.
Since then, chewing gum has gradually begun to take the form of the product that everyone is used to seeing in our time.
Adams was the creator of the first fruit-flavored gum called Tutti Frutti. Incidentally, this chewing gum is still produced today.
In 1892, the still-known chewing gum Wrigley`s Spearmint appeared, the creator of which was William Wrigley. In addition, he improved the technical production of the product - the chewing gum itself, the composition has undergone changes: the form has become expressed in the form of a plate or a ball, components such as powdered sugar and fruit additives have been added.
Chemical components of chewing gum
At the beginning of the last century, chewing gum manufacturers have come up with a single formula for what a real chewing gum should be. Its composition looked like this:
1. Sugar or its substitutes account for 60%.
2. Rubber - 20%.
3. Flavored components - 1%.
4. Corn syrup to extend the taste - 19%.
Modern manufacturers produce their products with the following composition:
1. Chewing base.
2. Aspartame.
3. Starch.
4. Coconut oil.
5. Various dyes.
6. Glycerol.
7. Flavors of natural and artificial nature.
8. Technical ionol.
9. Acids: malic and citric.
Such a composition raises doubts about the usefulness of chewing gum. But without chemical components, modern chewing gum would not be able to retain its taste for a long time, be subject to long-term storage.
The benefits of chewing gum
Although the use of chewing gum causes a lot of controversy about its benefits and harms, it nevertheless does not detract from its relevance. Chewing this product brings its benefits to humans.
- Chewing gum makes the breath fresh and pleasant.
- Regular chewing helps strengthen the gums. This is true, but for this you need to chew evenly on both sides of the mouth, otherwise you can achieve the development of facial asymmetry.
- Preserves the acid-base environment of the oral cavity.
Chewing gum harm
Every day, hundreds of thousands of people, and maybe more, chew gum without thinking about its effect on the body. But chewing gum can do harm.
- Regular use disrupts the usual production of saliva. Salivation increases quantitatively, and this is a negative deviation from the norm.
- Do not chew gum on an empty stomach. The result of this can be the production of gastric juice, which will irritate the walls of the stomach, which ultimately leads to the formation of gastritis.
- Despite chewing gum strengthens the gums, it can also negatively affect their condition. The result may be impaired blood circulation, which will lead to their inflammation or periodontal disease.
- Recently, scientists have found that regular chewing of chewing gum contributes to a delayed reaction and a deterioration in mental abilities.
- If fillings are installed on the teeth, then chewing gum can cause them to fall out.
- Chemical carcinogens have negative effects on the body, including those that can provoke the development of various diseases. The gastrointestinal tract may be affected first.
Chewing gum myths
Chewing gum is a popular product. Commercials daily claim that regular use of it will bring a lot of benefits, for example, protect teeth from caries, give them perfect whiteness, and freshen your breath. But which of this is true, and what is the usual advertising move?
Myth 1: chewing gum will prevent tooth decay and cleanse teeth of food debris. The plausibility of this statement is approximately 50/50. Of course, chewing gum will not protect against caries, but it can remove food residues, as a result of which chewing gum can be used when it is not possible to brush your teeth.
Myth 2: Chewing gum will create a "Hollywood smile." Alas, this is an empty promise of advertising.
Myth 3: Chewing gum will speed up losing weight. Many people are sure that chewing chewing gum reduces the feeling of hunger, respectively, I want to eat less. But this is a fallacy. In addition, you can not chew gum on an empty stomach.
Myth 4: swallowed gum will remain in the stomach for several years. This cannot be. Chewing gum will be eliminated naturally in a couple of days.
Orbits. What's inside?
"Orbits" - chewing gum, the composition of which includes various artificial fillers. However, this manufacturer is quite famous, which justifies the huge popularity of its product.
Having looked at the composition of the Orbit gum, which is indicated on the back of the package, you can see the following elements:
• Chewing base - polymer latex.
• Components that create a sweet aftertaste - maltitol E965, sorbitol E420, mannitol E421, aspartame E951, acesulfame K E950.
• Various aromatic substances, natural and artificial, which depend on the intended taste of the chewing gum.
• Coloring substances: E171 - titanium dioxide, which gives the chewing gum a snow-white color.
• Additional components: emulsifier E322 - soya lecithin, antioxidant E321 - artificial substitute for vitamin E, which inhibits oxidation, sodium bicarbonate E500ii, thickener E414, emulsifier and antifoam, stabilizer E422, enrobing agent E903.
There is also the option of "Orbit" without the content of sweeteners. The composition of the Orbit gum without sugar is the same as that of the usual one, only it contains sweeteners: xylitol, sorbitol and mannitol.
"Dirol": component composition
Dirol is another well-known manufacturer of chewing gum. The components from which it is made differ from those used for Orbit, but there are still some similarities.
The composition of chewing gum "Dirol":
• Chewing base - polymer latex.
• Sweeteners - isomalt E953, sorbitol E420, mannitol E421, maltitol syrup, acesulfame K E950, xylitol, aspartame E951.
• Aromatic additives depend on the intended taste of the chewing gum.
• Dyes - E171, E170 (calcium carbonate 4%, white dye).
• Additional elements - emulsifier E322, antioxidant E321 - an artificial substitute for vitamin E, which helps to slow down oxidation processes, stabilizer E441, textureator E341iii, thickener E414, emulsifier and antifoam, stabilizer E422, enrobing agent E903.
E422 when it enters the bloodstream causes intoxication of the body.
E321 increases the level of bad cholesterol.
E322 increases the production of saliva, which subsequently negatively affects the digestive tract.
Citric acid can provoke the formation of tumors.
Eclipse chewing gum
The composition of the chewing gum "Eclipse" is as follows:
• Basis - latex.
• Sweeteners - maltitol, sorbitol, mannitol, acesulfame K, aspartame.
• Flavors are used natural and identical to natural. They depend on the taste of chewing gum.
• Dyes - calcium carbonate 4%, E 171, a dye that imparts a blue color, E 132.
• Additional substances - E 414 (gum arabic), stabilizer E 422, enrobing agent E 903, antioxidant E 321.
Chewing gum "Avalanche of freshness"
Chewing gum "Avalanche of Freshness" goes on sale in the form of small balls of blue, blue and green.
Such chewing gum is sold not in packaged packages of several pieces, but by weight. But basically, the sale of such chewing gum is carried out by means of special machines - individually.
Chewing gum "Avalanche of freshness" composition has the following: latex, powdered sugar, caramel syrup, glucose, flavor "Bubble-Gum" and "Menthol", coloring components "blue shiny" and "sea wave", E171, E903.
If you evaluate the composition of chewing gum, the conclusion about their "usefulness" suggests itself. However, rarely does anyone think about the consequences that chewing gum can cause.
On the other hand, chewing gum can help out in some situations.