30 Bubble Gum Facts That Will Blow Your Mind

Did you know humans have chewed gum for almost 9,000 years?

It’s hard to find anyone who’s never tried to blow a gum bubble at least once. Even if some people are better at it than others, just trying is a lot of fun.

But for as popular as this sweet treat is, there are plenty of bubble gum facts the average person doesn’t know. These are the tastiest tidbits about gum and bubble gum flavoring.

Humans Have Been Chewing Gum for Thousands of Years

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The oldest record of gum chewing began upward of 9,000 years ago with the ancient Mayans.

This civilization enjoyed chewing on a gum-like substance called chicle, derived from the sap of the sapodilla tree. The material was soft and stretchy, not too dissimilar in texture from the stuff we enjoy today.

Chicle was used to either quench thirst or fight off hunger.

Sugary Bubble Gum Exists Because of a Dentist

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Modern gum — think Hubba Bubba and Bazooka brands — was invented by a dentist named William Finley Semple. The Mount Vernon, Ohio, native is popularly known as the first person to patent chewing gum. He hoped the sticky stuff would help people clean their teeth.

Little did he know the gum industry would add all the sugar it could, making this sweet treat a pain for his industry.

Bubble Gum Was Invented by an Accountant

Businessman using calculator and reading document

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Although chewing gum is credited to a dentist, bubble gum owes its existence to an even less likely inventor.

Despite being an accountant by trade, Walter E. Diemer created the Dubble Bubble recipe that got the sticky bubble gum ball rolling.

Bubble Gum Got Its Famous Hue by Being the Only Color Available

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Who knows? If Diemer had a blue or green dye on hand in 1928, the first bubble gum batch might have turned out very different from the iconic pink that we all know today.

But as legend has it, Diemer only had a red dye on hand, which he diluted to pink. It was an upgrade from the original gum shade, which was a dingy, unappetizing gray color.

The Famous Brand Still Exists Today

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“Dubble Bubble” was the name of the iconic bubble gum brand that William Diemer invented for the Fleer Corporation.

The brand still exists today, and it’s currently owned by Tootsie Roll Industries.

It Took Diemer a Year to Get Bubble Gum Right. Then He Messed Up.

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Talk about persistence. Diemer took an entire year to get his bubble gum recipe right. Then he failed to repeat his success. For months.

But he didn’t give up and was finally able to get his bubble gum recipe just right.

The First-Ever Batch Weighed 300 Pounds

Pink cylinder-shaped gum and colorful gumballs

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Once Diemer got his product right, he wanted to make sure that there was more than enough to go around, resulting in a massive, 300-pound batch of what would soon be known as “Dubble Bubble” gum.

There Were 100 Candies Made From That First Batch

Do you want some gumballs? Colorful gum candy

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Diemer converted that first batch into 100 pieces of bubble gum, which he quickly ran down to the nearest candy store in hopes of testing its popularity as soon as possible.

He wouldn’t have to wait long to find out how the public felt about his tasty new invention.

Bubble Gum Was a Hit Candy From Day One

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Diemer’s first batch of bubble gum was priced at just a penny. Affordable and delectable, the inventor was no doubt beside himself when the entire stock sold out in just one day.

It might have been a $1 profit, but that would be far from the last buck Dubble Bubble would go on to earn.

It Made $1 Million in Its First Year

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Diemer’s bubble gum creation was the first time bubble gum was successfully sold commercially. In the first year, it earned $1.5 million dollars.

If priced at a penny each, that means Dubble Bubble sold at least 150 million pieces of gum in the first year.

Millions of People Chew It Every Year

Over 150 million Americans chew gum each year. RealPeopleGroup / Getty Images

According to data based on the U.S. Census data and Simmons National Consumer Survey (NHCS), approximately 160.1 million Americans chewed gum in 2020.

When You Chew Bubble Gum, You’re (Sort of) Chewing Rubber

Rubber tree with white sap dripping into catcher

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Many people are shocked to learn that what we enjoy chewing on so much starts from a rubber base. Originally organic, today’s gum recipes feature a synthetic material called polyisobutylene or “butyl rubber.”

This shift actually helped manufacturers move away from relying on trees to make their bubble gum.

Bubble Gum Is Sticky Because of Its Polymer Base

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The combination of synthetic polymers, plasticizers and resins are what make bubble gum so sticky and stretchy.

The Bubble Gum Base Can Be Found in Some Surprising Places

Sadly, some gums contain polyethylene. LightFieldStudios / Getty Images

One of the most common bubble gum bases, polyethylene, can also be found in Hula hoops, ketchup bottles and car tires.

It should go without saying, but you definitely shouldn’t try chewing on these.

The ‘Bubble Gum’ Flavor Is Not Real

Most bubble gums have a fruity flavor. toddtaulman / Getty Images

Speaking of artificial ingredients, though we recognize bubble gum as a flavor, it’s not real. There’s no singular “bubble gum flavor.”

It’s instead a combination of fruity flavors combined to create the taste we recognize whether it’s chewing gum, a lollipop or some other snack.

The Biggest Bubble Gum Bubble Ever Blown Was Nearly 2 Feet in Diameter

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Chad Fell of Winston County, Alabama, holds the Guinness World Record for the biggest bubble blown without the use of his hands at 50.8 centimeters, or 20 inches, in diameter.

Meanwhile, Someone Stretched Gum to the Equivalent of a 3-Story Building

Bubble gum trivia: The longest gum stretch was 564 inches. Denis_Vermenko / Getty Images

Trevor Cummings of Mesa, Arizona, is said to hold the record for the longest gum stretch at 564 inches long. For reference, that’s just slightly taller than a three-story building.

Want to Blow Bubbles? Chew for at Least 15 Minutes

The longer you chew, the easier it gets to blow bubbles. RyanJLane / Getty Images

If you’re going to blow a bubble, you should chew for at least 15 minutes to get the gum soft and pliable enough to create good quality bubbles. The longer you chew, the easier it gets to blow bubbles.

But there are a couple of other important factors to consider when trying to up your bubble-blowing game.

Heat Makes It Easier to Blow Bubbles, While Cold Makes It Tougher

Bubble gum trivia: warm gum blows better bubbles than cold gum. vizualni / Getty Images

Bubbles blow better when it’s hot than when it’s cold. The warmth of your mouth plays a role in softening the stuff.

Interestingly, this isn’t true for soap bubbles, which are more likely to pop as water gets hotter.

Want to Blow Big Bubbles? Get Rid of the Sugar!.

Bubble gum fact: Sugar content weakens bubbles. wundervisuals / Getty Images

Bubble gum is easier to blow into bubbles once it’s no longer sweet, meaning your gum’s sugar molecules are mostly gone.

Sugar weakens the bubble as it stretches, so you’ll need to be rid of it with lots of chewing to get the biggest bubbles possible.

Gum Doesn’t Break Down In the Stomach

Bubble gum fact: Gum does not get digested by your stomach. Tharakorn / Getty Images

The gum bases do not break down in your stomach.

And remember that human stomach acid has a pH level not too far off from being as strong as battery acid.

Bubble Gum May Be Indigestible, But Don’t Panic

Playful man popping chewing gum bubble of girl

Bubble gum myth: No, if you swallow gum, it will not stick to your insides. wundervisuals / Getty Images

Although it’s not recommended that you swallow gum, it’s a myth that if it goes in, it won’t come out and will “stick” to your insides.

Don’t worry. Gum won’t break down in your stomach or intestines, but it will still make a timely exit.

Bazooka Joe Bubble Gum’s Comic Strip Ran For 59 Years

Bubble gum fact: The Bazooka Joe cartoon strip ran from 1953-2012. robtek / Getty Images

Bazooka Joe was a famous bubble gum candy known for its inclusion of a comic strip.

The strip ran from 1953 until 2012, when the strips were replaced with puzzles in an attempt to modernize the brand.

Pepto Bismol Is Not Originally Bubble Gum Flavored

No, Pepto-Bismol is not bubble gum flavor. evemilla / Getty Images

No, Pepto-Bismol is not bubble gum flavor. Although it’s bright pink coloring makes your brain think “bubble gum,” the official flavor is actually mint.

The company does tote a bubble gum flavor, but it’s unsurprisingly aimed at kids.

The World’s Longet Gum Wrapper Chain is 106,810 Feet

Bubble gum fact: Gary made a gum wrapper chain that is over 100,000 feet long. Guinness World Records / YouTube

Gary Duschl of Virginia Beach could have tossed his gum wrappers away, as most of us do.

Instead, he saved them all, using them to create a unique braid long enough to wrap around the entire planet several times.

Bubble Gum vs. Chewing Gum: Which Is Better for Bubbles?

Gum comparison: Bubble gums have a higher concentration of gum than chewing gums. AndreyPopov / Getty Images

While you could try to blow tiny bubbles with your chewing gum, bubble gum is the easier and probably more fun choice.

That’s because between the two versions, it features a higher gum base.

Bubble Gum Is Much Sweeter Than Chewing Gum

Flavor choices: Bubble gum is usually fruity, while more traditional chewing gums are often minty. hartcreations / Getty Images

Bubble gum tends to be sweeter than traditional chewing gum.

Also, while bubble gum consists of various fruity flavorings, chewing gum tends to be less sweet and have “minty” flavors.

Opt For Sugar-Free Bubble Gum. Your Teeth Will Thank You.

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Well, with all that added sugar, it’s no surprise that bubble gum isn’t the best candy for your teeth.

If you’d like to avoid toothaches and unwanted trips to the dentist, consider sugar-free varieties as a potential alternative.

Myth Alert: Chewing Gum While Cutting Onions Doesn’t Really Prevent Tears

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It’s a myth that chewing gum while cutting onions will prevent tears.

You’re better off cutting onions under running water or using goggles.

Bubble Gum Has Its Own Special Day

Bubble gum fact: there's a national holiday for chewing gum in February

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There is indeed a national holiday for this fun sticky treat. Bubble Gum Day gets celebrated during the first week of February every year.

But you can enjoy gum year-round.