And that by chewing it you are ingesting a bunch of microplastics? Please confirm if this is true. I don’t want to believe.
Side question: what alternative means is there for sustained, minty fresh breath that does not involve ingesting microplastics? (Mints don’t work that great imo, the freshness wears off too fast. Gum was my go-to. Now what is left?)
it’s mostly a type of latex, some waxes, vegetable oils, lecithin, and glycerin, terpenes, but not polymer plastics.
Sadly it indeed can include polymer plastics
In which countries?
I can’t speak for other countries, but in the U.S. companies are allowed to have plastic polymers included in their “gum base” and only have to write “gum base” on the ingredient list, so you just have to assume it’s in there.
Well, in USA that is not surprising at all. But elsewhere I would not really assume it.
Even plant based gums, like those made from chicle sap are a polymer chain that will chip off with chewing and enter your system. The major difference is that those particles are typically still biodegradable. That doesn’t necessarily make them safe, but they shouldn’t stick around forever.
If you can put a plastic straw in your mouth…
It is kind of weird, but the reasoning holds. Certain artificial polymers may well be allowed in a lot of countries. The EU doesn’t even like mixing wine grapes, though, so maybe not them.