Virtually Non-Stick Gum Created

An anonymous reader writes "A new polymer has been developed by Professor Terence Cosgrove that allows for a non-sticky gum. In testing the gum was removed by weather while the competitor's gum was not removed 4 out of 5 times. The BBC reports: 'The company now needs to get its polymer accepted as a food product by passing EU health and safety tests. It can then go on sale. Professor Cosgrove says he is hopeful that the gum will pass them, and says the product could be on the market as early as next year, either as a Revolymer product or through a partnership with one of the major chewing gum manufacturers.'"

Re:If the gum is not sticking

[Gordonjcp]

It doesn't remove bits stuck to your teeth particularly well anyway. The main way that it (supposedly) is good for your teeth is because chewing things makes your mouth produce saliva. This would normally soak into dry things (like for instance bread) so it doesn't stick in your throat or gullet on the way down. Because gum doesn't absorb moisture, this saliva just sloshes around in your mouth washing food particles away from your teeth and diluting sugary gunk and acids.

Re:Wouldn't it be better...

[sucker_muts]

Wouldn't it be better to just make a gum that's safe to swallow?

'Chewing gum consists of a fibre that can't be digested by our bodies, so, if it's swallowed, apart from the unpleasant texture, it will pass harmlessly through the body intact along with other waste.'
http://www.raisingkids.co.uk/ask/EX07_PRE01.ASP [raisingkids.co.uk]

I still find it strange that people think swallowing gum is bad for you or something. :-)

Re:Wouldn't it be better...

[Atario]

Gum is safe to swallow. [mayoclinic.com]

Re:If the gum is not sticking

[iNetRunner]

Xylitol [wikipedia.org] is a good-for-your-teeth-sugar. Apparently Americans haven't really started using it yet..