Effect of spring oilseed rape crop density on plant root biomass and ... by Cepuliene, Rita; Marcinkeviciene, Ausra; Velicka, Rimantas; Kosteckas, Robertas; Pupaliene, Rita / Estonian Journal of Ecology.
A study in Washington State gathered 154 first to fifth graders from two elementary schools. The students were given four gummy bears made with either xylitol or maltitol (types of sugars used in many types of sugarless chewing gum) three times a day during school hours. All were checked for plaque and bacteria in their mouths at the start of the study and six weeks later.
To make things simple, gum is made up of rubber that is soft enough to chew, but has strong enough bonds to not dissolve in your mouth. It also has added sugar and flavor, so you'll actually chew it. Temperature ad environment are the main factors that affect gum elasticity. When you chew gum, the natural heat of your mouth and the surface of your teeth and tongue deform the gum, it becomes accustomed to that environment.