Eclipse (breath freshener) facts for kids
Eclipse is a popular brand of chewing gum and breath mint. It was first launched in the United States in 1999 by the Wrigley Company. Before that, a similar product called Excel was introduced in Canada in 1991. Eclipse is known for giving people "powerful fresh breath."
What is Eclipse?
Eclipse gum is sold in the U.S., Australia, and Latvia. In Canada, it's known as Excel. Eclipse mints are available in many countries, including the United States, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Latvia, Taiwan, South Korea, and Hong Kong. In Canada, they are called Excel mints. Interestingly, in Bulgaria, they are still sold under the name Airwaves, which was also their name in Australia for a while.
Eclipse Gum
The Excel gum brand first came out in Canada in 1991. Eight years later, in 1999, the Eclipse gum brand was created for the U.S. market. It was Wrigley's first time selling gum in small, pellet shapes in the U.S.
Eclipse gum comes in different packages:
- Small packs with 12 pieces.
- Larger packs with 18 pieces.
- Big plastic containers called "Big-E-Pak" with 60 pieces.
In 2007, the American Dental Association (ADA) gave its special seal of approval to Eclipse sugar-free gum. This means the ADA believes it's good for your teeth. Other gums from the same company, like Orbit and Extra, also have this seal.
Eclipse Mints
Wrigley also sells mints under the Eclipse brand. These mints come in small metal or paper containers. An Eclipse mint is shaped like a small oval. The top and bottom halves of the mints often have different colors, depending on the flavor.
You can find Eclipse mints in many flavors:
- Spearmint (green)
- Peppermint (blue)
- Black Chill (dark blue)
- Winterfrost (dark blue)
- Cinnamon (all pink)
- Orange (light orange)
- Blackcurrant (purple)
The ingredients in Eclipse mints include things like sorbitol (a sugar substitute), flavors, and colors. Some orange-flavored mints contain Phenylalanine, so people who need to avoid that ingredient should be aware.
Newer Eclipse mint packages say they have a "natural ingredient" that helps kill germs that cause bad breath. This special ingredient is called Magnolia bark extract (MBE). It comes from traditional Chinese medicine. Lab tests show that MBE can kill many types of mouth bacteria, including those that cause bad breath and cavities. Eclipse was the first product in the U.S. to use MBE.
Eclipse mints come in a metal box that can be recycled. The lid of the box has a small metal hinge that lets you open and close it easily. When you open the box, you'll see the slogan "powerful fresh breath" printed inside the lid. Each package usually has 50 mints, weighing about 1.2 oz (34 g).
Where to Find Eclipse Mints
Eclipse mints are sold in many countries, including the United States, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Latvia, Taiwan, South Korea, and Hong Kong. In Australia, they used to be called Airwaves. In Bulgaria, they are still sold as Airwaves.
In Australia and New Zealand, the packaging for the mints also includes a French translation. This is interesting because French is not an official language in either country.
Some flavors are not available everywhere. For example, the Winterfrost flavor is not sold in Australia. The Cinnamon flavor was stopped in Australia because not many people bought it, but you might still find it in some stores. In 2009, a new flavor called "Black Chill" was introduced. It comes in a black tin. Later in 2009, "Cool Breeze" was added, which is a milder peppermint flavor in a silver tin.
In Taiwan, Eclipse mints are known by their Chinese name "Yi Koh Shu" (易口舒). They have two main collections: Original Mint and Fruity Mint. Flavors include Spearmint, Peppermint, Winterfrost, Peach Mint, Apple Mint, and Lemon Mint.
In Hong Kong, Eclipse mints come in flavors like Spearmint, Peppermint, Winterfrost, Orange, Blackcurrant, Grape, and Lime. Eclipse sugar-free gum is sold in resealable bags with flavors like Spearmint, Peppermint, Polar Ice, and Lemon Ice.
In Canada, Excel Mints are sold with both French and English on the box, as required by law. The Canadian version has 49 mints instead of 50. During the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, each piece of Excel gum had a small edible maple leaf printed on it to support the Canadian Olympic Team.
See also
