What will happen if you swallow your gum?

6/25/2016

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Science Story: What will happen if you swallow your gum?

I was always told that swallowing chewing gum is harmful to my health. Have your parents told you that it would stay in your stomach for years? The thing is that no one seems to actually know what really happens.

Imagine it’s just happened and you’ve swallowed your gum, intentionally or not. Would it stay in your digestive tract forever?

It’s rumored that gum stays in your stomach for 7 years. It’s just not true, yet it sounds possible. You and I accepted it, because we don’t really know what will happen after such a crime.

However, gastroenterologists are sure that the unthinkable swallowing of your gum is just as harmful as swallowing a piece of a tough steak. Human digestive tract is much stronger than you think. For sure, everyone’s digestive system motility varies, but gum WILL go out like everything else.

The swallowed gum will pass through you, but it won’t get broken down during its journey as your body isn’t really interested in gums. Why? Because gum only “burdens” your stomach with no real benefit for its work.

So gum won’t harm you, still it’s unreasonable to swallow it purposefully. Just remember: if you swallow your gum, it’s not the end of the world.

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What are your thoughts on this subject?

130 Comments

Leida Toro

I always thought if you farted, it would make a bubble.

Carole Jean McLendon

If it were harmful I would have been dead years back...and here I be...nearly 75 and still swallowing it from time to time...

John Ostojich

Never spit it out on a hot sidewalk or parking lot.

Franklin C. Stogner

I think that you will fart bubbles.

Catryna White

My mother told me the same thing. I never believed it. And, then my daughter swallowed a big wad of bubblegum. I found it in her diaper the next day.

Richard Sutton

Mary Ford that makes cents to me.

Janis Walzem

My mom told me. "Never swallow your gum, it sticks to your stomach."

AskMrsP

Sally Onyett, I always swallow it too and it's done me no harm to date (as far as I know!)

Sally Onyett

I’ve swallowed gum several times a day for 40+ yrs and it never wrapped round my heart or blocked my stomach or any of the other old wives tales you hear. It passes thru the same as any other food that doesn’t digest like sweetcorn , peas and mushrooms 😂👍

Jessie Franklin

I used to swallow gum a lot. I just didn't want to know I had gum in my mouth.

Pat Roberts

My mum used to tell us it would wrap around your heart. We didn’t believe her.

Doris Dallaire

Like others who commented, my mother told me it would stick to my stomach. I didn’t swallow it often but after she told me that, I never did. I believed her!

Cyclepro

Well, As long as it does not gum up the works!

John W Shreve

I used to bite my fingernails and swallow them. My mother said that if I swallowed my gum, the fingernails would stick in it and it would bounce around it my stomach and put holes in it.

lmoores

I was always told not to swallow my gum as it will stick in my tummy.

deborahpmercer

Leida Toro, I can fairly say my life has been enriched by that statement!

mmariano

I did swallow a gum some years back.I experienced neither pain nor any disruption/inconvenience. I am still very much around.Just the same don't swallow gum intentionally/purposely. As they say there is always a first time.