Chewing Away on National Chewing Gum Day

Today, September 30th, is National Chewing Gum Day, a day when people everywhere can celebrate the historical development of the chewing gum industry and enjoy a pack of their favorite chewing gum.

National Chewing Gum Day was created to celebrate the historical background of gum and its integration into society today. People have chewed gum throughout history, and it continues to bring people together through shared habits today.

There is not much history behind National Chewing Gum Day, but the founder, Marlo Anderson, had a motto: “Celebrate every Day.” With that, he established over 400 holidays, including National Chewing Gum Day.

Chewing gum dates back to ancient civilizations all around the world. Ancient civilizations chewed natural resins like tree sap, certain nuts, and even some types of leaves instead of the sugar-free sticks we know today. In 1848, the first commercially produced gum was invented, and over time, gum advanced and was patented in 1968 by a dentist named William Semple. Over time, gum has evolved even more into many new flavors and variations, and is widely accessible. September 30th is a day to celebrate your love of chewing gum with the people you love. (Nix)

Destiny Hughes works at Caring Family Dental. She described how much her patients love gum, and she was excited to learn about this holiday.

“Sugar-free gum is good to chew as long as you brush your teeth before bed,” Hughes said.

There are many reasons people choose to celebrate National Chewing Gum Day, including its effectiveness in freshening breath.

“More people need to start chewing it,” Sincere Smith, a high school student at Central High school expressed.

A college student living in West Virginia was excited to learn about National Chewing Gum Day because of her everyday use of gum.

“I like to chew gum while studying because it helps me remember better. I think a day all about chewing gum and its effectiveness is amazing,” Maddi Schaffer, a student at West Virginia declared.

Sources:

Nix, Elizabeth. “Chew on This: The History of Gum.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, 27 May 2025, www.history.com/articles/chew-on-this-the-history-of-gum.