Chewing gum might seem like a simple pleasure these days, but its history is rich with innovation, culture, and surprising twists. Odd that a dentist might be talking about chewing gum? Not really! The history of the beloved confectionary companion is full of dentists.
The roots of chewing gum can actually be traced back thousands of years – to ancient civilizations including the Greeks, Mayans, and Native Americans who often indulged in chewing various gum-like substances derived from natural sources like tree sap. But in 1869 a dentist named Thomas Bramwell Welch made a groundbreaking discovery that would forever change the trajectory of the chewing gum industry. Drawing on his expertise in dentistry, and a keen understanding of oral health, he formulated a concoction he called, “Dr. Welch’s Unfermented Wine,” a grape-based sugar substitute. Though he didn’t patent his creation as “chewing gum,” his creation served as a catalyst for dentists and other inventors.
The Modern Era: In the 19th century, chewing gum really began to take shape. John Curtis, an American inventor, developed and sold the first commercial chewing gum made from spruce tree resin. And in the late 19th and 20th centuries, significant advancements were made when (in 1869) a dentist named William F. Semple received the first patent for chewing gum – envisioning it as a way to clean teeth on the go. Does chewing gum help clean teeth? It depends.
The Birth of Bubble Gum: In 1928, Walter Diemer, of the Fleer Corporation, literally stumbled on a unique formula for BUBBLE GUM while experimenting in his spare time. Ever heard of Dubble Bubble? It was an instant hit and chewing gum, in general, gained massive popularity pretty quickly. Remember Bazooka Joe and the Doublemint Twins? In fact, gum ads are often some fun ads and everyone knows that Trident’s “4 out of 5 dentists recommend trident for their patients who chew gum” ads is kind of the original meme.
For more dental history, I recommend taking a look at Toothworms and Spider Juice, if only for the title alone. I might delve into learning more about “fairy floss” soon, too.
Dentist Thomas Bramwell Welch (1825-1903) of Vineland, New Jersey, created an unfermented grape sugar in 1869 that he called “Dr. Welch’s Unfermented Wine.” In 1869, William F. Semple (1834-1922), a dentist in Ohio was the first inventor to patent chewing gum. Semple hoped that people would be able to clean their teeth with it. Dentist William James Morrison (1860-1926) of Nashville, Tennessee, invented the cotton candy machine, called the Fairy Floss Machine, in the nineteenth century. The machine that he designed still works today just as it did then.
“Toothworms and Spider Juice: An Illustrated History of Dentistry” – Loretta Frances Ichord, Millerbrook Press.
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