Swallowing Chewing Gum Will Cause Intestinal Problems

Myth: How many times have you heard that swallowing gum is bad or dangerous for you? And how many times did you wonder if this was true? It is no surprise that the majority of people who chew gum have at one time or another swallowed it either by accident or on purpose. Does this mean most of us are walking around with chewing gum clogging up our intestines? Before you swear off gum for good, let’s dispel this myth.

Reality: Human beings have been chewing on one substance or another since ancient times. In fact, there is evidence that suggests the ancient Greeks and Native Americans habitually chewed on rubber-like resin derived from indigenous trees and plants. Today’s chewing gum is typically made of a natural or synthetic gum base combined with sugar (or a sugar substitute), glycerin, preservatives, flavorings, and coloring. Gum manufacturers combine these ingredients, among others, to create flavors that are both distinctive and appealing to their consumers.

While the ingredients added to the gum base are easily digested, the gum base itself is not because the human body does not have the ability to degrade either natural or synthetic gum resin. Since the gum base cannot be broken down, an occasionally swallowed piece of gum will pass completely through the digestive system intact. It will not stay in your stomach nor cause intestinal problems. It is important to note, however, that swallowing a large amount of gum or excessively swallowing gum over a short time period may lead to the development of intestinal blockage. Digestive blockage can also occur if the gum is swallowed with other indigestible substances like watermelon seeds, though such occurrences are rare. Since swallowing gum has no real harmful effects, gum-chewers can continue to chew in peace.

Sources: www.healthatoz.com; www.webmd.com; http://healthlibrary.epnet.com; www.wrigley.com; www.nacgm.org/consumer/funfacts.html (gum fun facts); www.princetonreview.com/studyhall/studyhall2.asp (gum fun facts)