People have been chewing gum for centuries, with the Early Greeks and Native Americans chewing on the resin of trees. Today, there is a wide variety of chewing gum available in different shapes, sizes and functions that range from medicating the body to just allowing one the ability to blow bubbles.
Stick Gum
Chewing gum commonly comes in the form of stick gum, a group of thin sticks meant to be enjoyed one at a time. There is also a variation on this type that comes in short, thick tabs. Ribbon gum is typically made of the same material, but is longer and coiled up in a container so one can rip off as much gum as he wants to chew.
Different Shapes
Dragée gum is the other common form of chewing gum, which is a hard coated tablet shaped like a capsule. Also coated is the spherical ball gum. Chewing gum can also come in tube form or as cubes or small cylinders, which are often individually wrapped.
Different Functions
Bubble gum, one of the most common uses of gum, is simply meant to be chewed and blown into bubbles with the mouth. However, chewing gum can also have other functions like carrying medicine, herbs, antioxidants, vitamins, or even energizing substances, as in energy gum. It can be used to quench thirst or as dental gum to whiten and ensure clean, healthy teeth.
Different Ingredients
Regular chewing gum and bubble gum tend to be made with sugar, but sugar-free gum is an alternative form that is made with artificial sweeteners. Nicotine gum is a special kind of gum that smokers use when they are trying to quit, as it provides a small fix of nicotine as the chewing preoccupies the smoker's mouth. Some gums, provided they're the right shape, can even contain something in the center such as a flavored liquid.
Different Flavors
Gum can have a variety of flavors such as mint, wintergreen, peppermint, cinnamon, spearmint or licorice. Gum can also taste like fruit including watermelon, strawberry, lemon and orange or other flavors like coffee, cola, tea, or even alcoholic drinks
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