Food Myths: Swallowing Chewing Gum
Most people have heard at least once about the dangers of swallowing chewing gum. According to Snopes.com, there is even a myth of chewed gum sticking to a person's insides for seven years if swallowed.
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Gum Base
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Chewing gum consists of a gum base which makes up 15 to 30 percent of the gum's ingredients. This rubbery base is indigestible, meaning that stomach acid does not break down swallowed gum the way it does swallowed food.
Swallowed Gum
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Though gum never breaks down in the stomach, the intestines do move it along through the digestive tract; it is not actually digested, however.
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Rare Cases
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In very rare cases of swallowing a lot of gum in a very limited period, blockage can occur. When this does happen it is more likely that other indigestible objects, like coins, are swallowed as well so that the gum creates the blockage by wrapping around the object.
Prevention/Solution
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Small children are most likely to swallow gum, as a young child mistakenly thinks it is food. To avoid any rare chance of a blockage, do not allow very young children to chew gum.
Elimination
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The result of swallowing an occasional piece of chewing gum is the same as any other swallowed matter: The body removes the gum in ordinary bowl movements.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit http://www.flickr.com/photos/sungazing/380155810/
