Trends come and trends go. One of the trends that seems to be disappearing is the common practice of chewing gum. The Wall Street Journal had an article about it recently. Gum companies are struggling to find a market with today’s consumers. When was the last time you enjoyed a stick of chewing gum? When was the last time someone offered you a stick as they prepared to enjoy one?
Chewing gum used to be everywhere. In the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Chief Bromden is pleased when Jack Nicholson offers him Juicy Fruit. And the beautiful Doublemint twins pitched gum on TV every day.
Mama sent me to the spring
Told me not to stay
I fell in love with a pretty little girl
And I could not go away
Chewing chawing gum, chawing chewing gum
Chewing chawing gum, chawing chewing gumWhen chewing gum was first marketed to the general consumer in the late 1800’s, it was produced with latex from the chicle tree. Wrigley made a fortune and established a baseball team. But, like many modern innovations. the habit of chewing gum in public was not necessarily accepted by general society:
Took my girl to the church last night
How do you reckon she done
She walked right up to the preacher’s face
And chewed her chewing gum
These days chewing gum is made from synthetic rubber because it’s cheaper to produce than latex. Chewing gum can be produced with Xylitol, a synthetic sugar that helps protect your teeth. And there are other purported health benefits of chewing gum. But don’t take my word for it as a physician. Another line from this Carter Family songs says:
I would not marry a doctor
Tell you the reason why
He rides all around the country
Makes the people die
Uh Oh. But better still watch out for these folks:
I would not marry a lawyer
Tell you the reason why
Every time he opens his mouth
Tells a great big lie
Chewing gum may be a fad which has past its prime but I still like it. Sure the undersides of our school desks are much better off now that the chewing gum phenomenon has faded. But I still like to enjoy a good chew and maybe even blow a bubble.
Chewing chawing gum, chawing chewing gum
Chewing chawing gum, chawing chewing gum
