Shopping!

Today I went to my usual place to purchase gum, CVS. I usually go to CVS a few times a week so I pick up gum while I'm running errands or purchasing other things that I need.

There are two sections to buy gum. One is near the candy aisle and the other is right near the cashier. I always go to the one near the cashier since I don't buy gum in bulk. This is basically what the section looks like.

One observation about this section is that it's relatively overwhelming. The section is very wide and short. I realize that when I pick up gum at a grocery store, I usually pick the same kind, Orbitz. When I'm at CVS, I am more likely to experiment. I don't go to the same exact place.  It's also so colorful. At this point, there are so many choices and I feel like there is a new kind of gum every single time I go. On one hand, this is nice. I can try something new and it becomes my go to. For instance today, I picked up something new. On the other hand, gum is something I don't want to think about. I have 100 choices I have to make a day at work and in my personal life. I want something like gum to be easy. Grab my Orbitz and go.
A new trend I've noticed is "whitening" gum. I actually will pick this up more often than not even though I'm not sure I believe this gum is actually making any kind of a difference. I do feel like this is kind of a marketing ploy but I seem to be falling for it.
The brands I see most are Orbitz and Trident. I think Trident is a very popular and an older brand. As far as Orbitz, I do feel like it's newer but they've had a ton of popular commercials.

The gum I see the least is 5Gum. I'm not sure why I've seen this the least. To be honest, the first time I've noticed it was for this blog when I was looking for the gum I see least often.

Today I bought Dentyne Pure. I had tried a piece that someone else had and I really enjoyed it. It was very juicy and made my mouth feel fresh for a long time afterwards. I think this shows I'm willing to try different kinds of gum as this is not my usual purchase. I also listen to the opinions of friends.

As far as my one wish for gum, is that it lasts longer. Most gums do what I expect but the flavor and chewability diminishes very quickly.

If I had not purchased gum today, I would probably spent it on a hygiene product as that is what I am usually purchasing from CVS. That is something I always need. It might be because I don't think enough of the value of $5 but I don't feel any hesitancy that I used the money to purchase gum. It is something I chew often and makes me feel better throughout the day.

Life Without Gum

Tomorrow, I am not going to be chewing any gum for the day. At this point, I don't feel a lot of trepidation. My biggest concern is post-smoking. I know I use it to concentrate, particularly when I'm not a project, but I'm used to it at this point, so it's' not a big concern. I guess I'm more nervous to see what it's like to have to consciously deprive myself of something that I usually subconsciously reach for out of my purse or off of my desk.

• 7:30 a.m. I have a cigarette while waiting for the bus and I immediately want gum. My mouth tastes gross. I'm thinking about how I am going to try and look for a mint at work.
• 9:00 a.m. My boss buys me Starbucks which I try not to drink very often. Afterwards, my mouth again tastes gross and I want some gum. I have a meeting so I can't stop and find a mint

• 11:00 a.m.I am working on a project and want to chew on something. I have a blow pop. I wasn't even thinking about the gum in the middle...so I kind of cheated.

• 1:00pm I have just finished lunch and I want another piece of gum. Instead I have some Jolly Ranchers.

• 3:30pm I have a cigarette and want some more gum. I have more jolly ranchers afterwards instead.

I realized after this day of craving gum throughout the day, I'm not always chewing for the reason I originally though: breath. I actually rely on it quite a bit when I"m trying to concentrate. I also didn't realize how big of a habit it was for me. I could almost compare it to cigarettes. It was a natural reaction just to reach it for and extremely frustrating when I figured out I couldn't have one. I got used to it pretty quickly and it wasn't too difficult to find a replacement however when I couldn't, I was self-conscious or annoyed.

Thinking about my relationship with gum, I supposed it's like a boyfriend you ignore until you need him. I felt like it was something I don't even think about until I wanted a piece and then I was irritated when I didn't have gum. It's nothing I can't quickly get over but it's convenient to have it there.

I suppose mints can replace gum as far as having fresh breath. The biggest difference between gum and a lollipop, mint or piece of hard candy is that you can chew it. It's an activity almost versus just something that you keep in your mouth.

A Day in the Life of My Mouth

Hi! My name is Emily. I am 28 years old and have lived in Chicago for 6 years. I am originally from Colorado and go back often to visit my parents and friends. I am an Academic Advising Manager here in Chicago and enjoy my job. I like to spend my time with my friends, running, listening to music and spending tme on the lake.

A day in the life of my mouth:

The first thing when I woke up was had a Luna Bar for breakfast. I work out in the mornings so it's important I have something to fuel my work outs even if I'm not hungry. I chose this because it has a good balance of protein and carbs. This was at 5:00am.

During and after the workout, I was drinking a lot of water. I do this both out of thirst and necessity so I'm not dehyrdated. I will drink 4-5 bottles of water a day.

Directly after my workout, I usually smoke a cigarette. I smoke several times a day and that is a big reason why I choose gum. My first cigarette of the day was at 7:15a.m.

Directly after this, I will chew gum. The kind I currently have is Orbitz. It usually chew gum after a cigarette because it makes my mouth feel cleaner. It makes me less self-conscious of my breath. I will only chew it for a few minutes mostly to make my breath smell better.

Once I got to work, I had a cup of tea. I try not to drink too much caffeine but this was a cold day and it helped me warm up.

Shortly after, I had another piece of gum. I had a meeting and it helps to keep me focused. Usually when I want to chew gum for a long period of time, I prefer Trident, not the kind of gum that comes out of the push packs.

Around noon, I had a Lean Cuisine (Lemon Chicken) and a water. This was pretty good but not very filling. I usually eat Lean Cuisines out of convenience, not usually because of taste. I then went outside to smoke another cigarette. After both of those things, I chewed another piece of gum. I continued to drink water throughout the day.

After my 3:00pm meeting, I went to have another cigarette as I usually do around this time. Honestly, the cigarettes generally make me feel crappy after I smoke them and I have been trying to cut down. I also had another cup of tea as this was a cold day and I was sick of water. I actually drink Peppermint Tea which is also my favorite flavor of gum. I followed both of these things with another stick of gum.

I eat a snack at 4:30pm. I know I'm not eating again until 7:30pm when I go to dinner with friends. I have a granola bar since that is all I have around. I am not eating for enjoyment but rather necessity at this time. I get cranky when I'm hungry and I have perpetually late friends so I probably won't eat until 8:00pm.

On my way home from work, I have another cigarette and piece of gum. I then go to meet my friends for dinner at Sushi Samba. I have a Spicy Tuna Roll (which is my favorite) and three glasses of wine. I like the taste and also to relax after work.

http://www.sushisamba.com/index.cfm/id/10/id2/28.html

After dinner, the last thing I put in my mouth is a toothbrush, toothpaste and I floss.