For years, there has been a common myth that swallowing chewing gum is dangerous. Some people believe that chewing gum will never digest and could stay in your stomach for years.

Others believe that chewing gum can get stuck in your intestines and cause severe health problems. Despite these misconceptions, what are the facts about swallowing chewing gum? In this article, we will examine the facts vs fiction on this topic.

What is Chewing Gum?

Chewing gum is a type of soft and elastic candy that you can chew on for hours to freshen your breath or relieve stress. It consists of a gum base, sweeteners, flavors, colors, and sometimes softeners, preservatives, and additives.

Chewing gum is made to be chewed and discarded in the trash or pavement after use. However, sometimes, people accidentally swallow their chewing gum, thinking it’s harmless. But what really happens when you swallow chewing gum?.

What Happens When You Swallow Chewing Gum?

When a person swallows chewing gum, it does not mean that it will stay in their stomach forever. The human digestive system is well-equipped to handle most types of food and non-food materials, including gum.

However, gum is different from other foods because it’s not easily broken down by digestive juices and enzymes.

Gum base is insoluble in water and acid, which means that it passes through your stomach and small intestine with very little change in its size, shape, or texture, unlike other foods that get digested and absorbed. But that does not mean it stays in your gut forever. Your body eventually gets rid of it through bowel movements.

How Long Does It Take To Digest Chewing Gum?

It’s challenging to estimate how long it takes for the body to digest chewing gum fully. The commonly held belief that it takes seven years to digest a swallowed piece of gum is not accurate.

The digestive system does not have a time limit for gum or any other non-digestible material to get expelled from the body. The time it takes for gum to pass through your digestive tract and out of your body can vary depending on various factors, such as your age, metabolism rate, hydration level, and weight.

In general, it takes about one to seven days for gum to leave your body through bowel movements.

Can Swallowing Chewing Gum Be Dangerous?

Swallowing chewing gum is not necessarily dangerous for healthy people. As we mentioned earlier, gum gets expelled from the body like any other waste product.

The body does not absorb any of its ingredients, and nothing gets stuck in your intestines permanently.

However, gum can cause some discomfort and minor issues when it’s swallowed. The gum can stick to other materials in your digestive tract, such as food, mucus, or feces, creating a conglomeration called a bezoar.

Bezoars are not necessarily harmful, but they can block your digestive system and cause discomfort, pain, or vomiting. Bezoars usually occur in people with gastrointestinal problems, such as gastroparesis or Crohn’s disease, or those who consume large quantities of gum, especially sugar-free gum, which contains sorbitol, a laxative that can loosen stools.

Another potential issue with swallowing chewing gum is accidental inhalation into the lungs. This can happen when you laugh, speak, swallow, or cough while chewing gum.

If the gum enters your trachea or bronchi, it can cause a blockage or inflammation, leading to choking, coughing, or respiratory problems. Breathing in gum is more common in children, especially those under three years old, who have smaller airways and may not know how to spit out the gum. However, inhalation of chewing gum is rare and usually harmless if the gum is swallowed or exhaled.

Myths About Swallowing Chewing Gum

There are many misconceptions and myths about swallowing chewing gum that are not based on science. Here are some of them:.

Swallowing gum will stick to your stomach and cause ulcers

There is no evidence that gum causes or worsens stomach ulcers, which are usually caused by a bacterial infection or long-term use of painkillers. Gum does not stick to your stomach lining or create a sticky mass that won’t dissolve.

Swallowing gum will clog your intestines and require surgery

It’s rare for gum to cause an intestinal blockage that requires surgery. Most ingested gum passes through your digestive system uneventfully, and even bezoars resolve on their own or with the help of medication, endoscopy, or surgery.

Surgery is only necessary in extreme cases or when the bezoar causes severe obstruction, bleeding, or infection.

Swallowing gum will cause cancer

There is no scientific evidence linking chewing gum with cancer. Gum does not contain any known carcinogens or harmful substances that can cause cancer.

However, some types of gum may contain artificial sweeteners, colors, or flavors that may cause allergic reactions, headaches, or other adverse effects in some people.

Conclusion

Swallowing chewing gum is not a good habit, but it’s not a health hazard if it happens occasionally. Most gum passes through your body harmlessly, and the body does not absorb anything from it.

However, swallowing gum can cause minor issues, such as bezoars or respiratory problems, and it’s not advisable if you have digestive or respiratory problems. If you want to chew gum, make sure to dispose of it properly, and don’t swallow it deliberately or accidentally.