What Happens When You Swallow Gum? - Britannica

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What Happens When You Swallow Gum? Is it true that gum stays in your stomach for seven years? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Print Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/story/what-happens-when-you-swallow-gum Feedback Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback

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External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Patricia Bauer Pat Bauer graduated from Ripon College in 1977 with a double major in Spanish and Theatre. She spent most of the next 42 years working as a copy editor and editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. Patricia Bauer Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot

Your parents may have warned you not to swallow your chewing gum because it would remain in your stomach for seven years. Could this possibly be true?

Chewing gum consists of a gum base and flavorings, including sweeteners. It is true that the gum base (made from synthetic chicle and similar resilient substances) cannot be digested. The body’s digestive system, however, deals with gum base the same way it manages other indigestible substances—by converting it into poop. When you swallow gum, it goes into your stomach, and the sugar, flavorings, and other soluble substances are made available for further digestion and use by your body. The digestive system is very good at sorting the usable from the unusable, such as the gum base, which passes unchanged through the small intestine. It continues into the large intestine, and within a few days it is expelled with all the other indigestible parts of your food.

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So that means swallowing gum is perfectly safe, right? Well, yes and no. Swallowing a great deal of gum (as small children may be wont to do) can cause problems. Too much gum base can form a gastric bezoar, causing a blockage that may require surgery to remove. And if you swallow other nonfood items, such as toys or coins, adding gum base will only make matters worse by sticking to them. So your parents were right in discouraging you from swallowing gum, even though your digestive system can technically take care of small amounts of swallowed gum in the same amount of time that it needs to take care of food.

Pat Bauer