The Surprising Truth About Swallowing Gum: Renowned Experts Weigh In

If you're among the individuals who have unintentionally swallowed a complete chewing gum, one question probably crossed your mind immediately following that surprising feeling:

How long does the gum remain in your body? It is widely believed that it remains in your stomach for a duration of seven years once ingested.

"It is a false belief," stated Simon Travis, a professor specializing in clinical gastroenterology at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. "The origin of this myth remains unknown to me. I can only speculate that it arose due to an individual's desire to discourage their children from chewing gum."

According to Travis, swallowing gum is only harmful when done in excessive amounts, which is a rare occurrence. He clarified that consuming three or more pieces of gum per day would be categorized as excessive.

Travis explained, "When gum is swallowed, it passes through the stomach and intestines without any alteration and is eliminated naturally." While there have been instances of gum causing blockages in the intestines of infants and children who have swallowed large quantities, Travis assured that he had personally never encountered such a case throughout his 30-year career as a specialist in gastroenterology.

woman with stomach ache, menstrual period cramp, abdominal pain, food poisoning

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What passing gas can say about your health

Dr. Aaron Carroll, a distinguished pediatrics professor and chief health officer at Indiana University, has authored numerous books that debunk body-related misconceptions.

While Carroll acknowledges that swallowing gum does not pose any harm, he does not endorse it.

He mentioned that gum lacks nutritional value since it consists of gum-based sweeteners, flavoring, and scents. Gum base is a combination of elastomers, resins, fats, emulsifiers, and waxes. Hence, claiming it to be unhealthy.

Jennifer Mathews, a professor of anthropology at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas and the author of "Chicle: The Chewing Gum of the Americas, From the Ancient Maya to William Wrigley," explains that ancient peoples used gum to satisfy their thirst and hunger before it was commercialized and packaged as we know it today. The Mayans specifically chewed on chicle, a substance derived from the sapodilla tree found in southern Mexico and Central America.

Mathews explained that chicle, a natural latex derived from the Chico sapote tree (also known as the sapodilla tree), is obtained by cutting into the tree bark. This latex serves as a protective barrier for the tree. It can be easily removed from the tree and used for chewing. Likewise, the Pima Indians in what is now the United States have been chewing on spruce tree sap for countless years. This practice eventually gained attention from European settlers and was subsequently commercialized.

When to worry about swallowing gum

Unless you are in pain or have swallowed a lot of gum, Travis and Carroll said you dont need to go to the doctor if you accidentally swallow a piece whole.

Carroll stated that it is a theoretical problem. It is theoretically possible for something large enough to cause a blockage in a small child, but this is not a concern for the average person. However, individuals with gastrointestinal tract issues should be cautious as swallowing gum could potentially lead to complications.

"If everything is unobstructed and without any constrictions, then things will pass through smoothly," shared Dr. Leila Kia, an accomplished gastroenterologist and associate professor of medicine at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.

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What happens if you exercise but dont eat well?

"If there is a narrowing or severe inflammation, or if you have a motility issue where your stomach or colon fails to properly empty, consuming substances like gum that cannot break down can lead to complications," explained Kia.

According to Kia, Crohn's disease frequently leads to inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, resulting in narrowing. As a result, doctors typically suggest a low-residue diet for Crohn's patients, which involves avoiding specific foods such as raw fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, popcorn, and gum.

Certain types of cancer and surgeries can lead to this narrowing. "If you were to consume multiple pieces of gum, it can pose a problem if you have a small stomach or underwent gastric surgery, which essentially results in a rearrangement of your anatomy," Kia explained. Despite this, Kia has never had to extract gum from someone's body, although she has had experience removing dentures that were potentially swallowed unintentionally.

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