What Happens When You Swallow A Gum? Here's What!

If we swallow Chewing Gum what will happen?

Will it get stuck in your windpipe or food pipe?

Will it cause a serious problem?

Let us find out what will happen.

Before moving ahead did you know what is Chewing Gum and what is it made up of?

Chewing Gum is a composite of Gum base that is formed from natural Resin. Resin provides a cohesive strength to Chewing Gum. Gum Base is the water-insoluble, non-nutritive, non-digestible masticatory (process of crushing) system used to carry substances in Chewing Gum like flavors, sweeteners.

Resins coming out of Tree.

Gum Base includes Latex (natural rubber), Beeswax, Jelutong, Chicle (natural gum), Rosin (solid form of resins), Plasticizer (makes gum flexible), Talc, and Antioxidants.

Rosin

Talc

Bee wax

In addition to Gum Base some sweeteners, colors, and flavors are too. So basically it has a 20% to 25% Gum Base and rests 80% to 75% is a flavor but still Chewing Gums are not good for your health.

Now, what happens exactly when you swallow a Chewing Gum?

According to researchers Chewing Gum  stays in your stomach for not more than seven days. In these seven days, Chewing Gum starts to digest. When you swallow a Chew Gum your stomach digests some part of it which includes sweetener, flavors, preservatives, and softeners, then there remains Gum Base that is indigestible which will then move to the colon and finally pass into the stool.   

Our digestive system is built to digest what it can and pass anything that can't be digested into the stool.

According to Dr. Lisa Ganjhu Gastroenterologist "Your gastrointestinal tract is very strong if you can digest a tough steak, it can digest a gum."

Chewing Gum has no nutritional value so most health professionals will advise you not to swallow Chewing Gum. Gum won't harm or kill you but it is not just logical to swallow  chewing gum purposely. Swallowing a Gum as long as it is a relatively small piece it can harmlessly pass through the stool in few days.

Now the question arises, is it fine to swallow Chewing Gum? If I keep swallowing Chewing Gum regularly will it not cause the problem?

swallowing Chewing Gum in a large amount is not recommended because according to researchers swallowing a large amount of Gum can lead to intestinal blockage especially in children. It can also cause Abdominal pain, Chronic constipation, Gas, Diarrhea, Mouth ulcers. Repeatedly chewing Gum can cause jaw, dental problems too.

It has been suggested that Gum should only be given to children once they are able to understand not to swallow it.

It is bad to swallow a Gum but it will not lead to a serious problem if you have done it by mistake. If you feel some problem after swallowing Gum please consult with the doctor.

Hope this Mystery of swallowing Chewing Gum is Solved. Now if you want more why, what, how blogs then do comment. Until next time keep learning and follow your curiosity.

Thank you.