Gum is generally classified as a confection rather than traditional candy because people chew it for flavor rather than swallowing it like food. While chewing gum contains sugar or artificial sweeteners to make it taste sweet, its base consists of food grade polymers instead of digestible ingredients. Traditional candy dissolves completely in your mouth, whereas gum remains solid throughout the chewing process. Therefore most confectionary experts place chewing gum in a separate category from standard candy.