The introduction of inexpensive, self-sealing Envelopes has challenged the ever-unpopular habit of manually licking or moistening Envelope glue. However, the usual “lickable” gum seal offers numerous overlooked advantages compared to alternative self-sealing techniques. It was a great advancement in industrial technology when it was developed, and despite the dislike it received from many, it addressed much more issues than it caused.

What is a Gummed Envelope?

An envelope with a gum seal, sometimes known as a “gummed” envelope, contains a strip of gum, a type of water-soluble adhesive, on the flap. The gum must be wet to seal the envelope, either by licking it, using an envelope moistener or by a postal machine. The flap may be sealed after moistening.

Due to their lower cost than self-seal or flip-and-seal envelopes, gummed envelopes are the most common and conventional. Simply told, they are the most affordable.

Envelope gums also benefit from being the ideal option for bulk mailing equipment. The envelope and its contents are prepared for mailing once the mail is placed into the machine, where the glue on the flap is automatically moistened and squeezed closed.

Is Licking Envelope Gums Toxic?

Technically, when one envelope is licked, the ingredients used to make remoistenable gums are not dangerous to your health. Most gum recipes combine maize or potato starch with a synthetic resin emulsion. Even more so when there are several envelopes to be sealed and the chance of ingesting too much glue rises, it is always advised for end users to moisten the seal for closing with a damp sponge rather than licking it.

Are All Types of Gum the Same?

Simply put, no. Different materials and forms are used to create a variety of envelope kinds. Just one kind of Envelope Gum won’t do. For instance, all envelope gums contain gum arabic, one of the key constituents. It is created from the acacia tree’s hardened sap and has many applications.

Now that you know the ingredients used to make envelope gum, you may lick it without any worries. If you still don’t like the idea of licking envelope gum after reading this, you may also use a moist sponge or towel.