What Is It About Gum? Dr. Ed Iannuccilli

What Is It About Gum? Dr. Ed Iannuccilli

Fresh off my stale gum under-the-seat catastrophe at the movie theater comes further recollections of my experiences with that sticky resin. At one point, gum seemed a necessary part of my life as I chewed it nearly religiously. And what did I chew?

My favorites were Dubble Bubble and Bazooka, with Bazooka tipping the scale because of the adventurous Bazooka Joe, the guy with the black eye patch. Joe’s character was named after the rocket-style weapon used during WW II. Here’s the catch and the draw with Bazooka. Inside the package came a comic strip.

As I recall, the gum came in pink, sugary, strawberry-flavored slabs. There was something about slipping the wad from side to side, chomping, and spurting. I remember Nellie Fox, the diminutive second baseman for the Chicago White Sox. His wad bulged his cheek because it enveloped a chunk of tobacco. And he spit a stream of brown juice. Ugh.

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Dubble Bubble, the world’s first bubble gum, was also a favorite. Their comic strip was nowhere as memorable as Joe's, but I liked the gum because it came wrapped in a single chunk, I was able to blow gooey, pink, big bubbles with it, sometimes as large as my face, sometimes getting the sticky stuff gum in my hair when it popped. Dubble Bubble was once considered nutritious and was part of the US military's ration kits in the 1930s. Early on, along with the gum, cards were issued with pictures of war heroes, wild west figures, and professional athletes.

Imagine this. During World War II, gum was featured in every soldier’s meal rations. Chiclets and Spearmint also made their appearances in the overseas service population. Soldiers used gum as a means of socializing with allied forces and civilians. Gum advertisements even displayed patriotic imagery to boost morale. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons why I chewed. Gum boosted my morale. Or it’s more likely that I chewed because everyone else did.

Though I don’t remember what I did when I was done chewing (the flavor dissipated quickly), I hope I didn’t slap my wad under any seat. But what did people do with the tons of chewed-up gum? Well, guess what? The subject has been studied.

Most teachers, businessmen, housewives, secretaries, and employees wrapped their gum in paper and threw it in the garbage. Kids usually stuck theirs under furniture(uh, oh there you go). I’m guessing no one ever instructed a kid where to dispose of their gum.

Why even chew gum? It can cause headaches and strain jaw muscles. It can increase the risk of tooth decay. It can cause digestive issues . . . bloating, gas, diarrhea. It is unprofessional, and it looks awful. Oh, one other thing. You may burn three calories per hour while chewing gum, but the usual stick contains eleven.

Gum is a popular product that people chew for various reasons, such as to freshen their breath, and relieve stress. Maybe even to snap it or blow bubbles. Not me. I’m done.