What Happens If You Swallow Gum?
Key takeaways:
Your body can’t digest the rubbery base of gum, but that doesn't mean it will stick in your stomach for 7 years or cause health problems.
The body deals with gum similarly to how it handles fiber. Instead of digesting it, the body moves it right through the intestines and then you pass it in your stool.
While it’s not “bad” to swallow gum in small amounts, gum gets a bit sticky when it comes to children. Kids younger than 5 years can choke on gum. And sugar-free options are the safest bet for all.
People have been chewing on stuff like gum for a very long time. And they’ve been swallowing it for just as long. So what happens when you swallow a rubbery product like gum? And, is it bad for you?
Maybe you’ve heard that it takes your body 7 years to digest gum. That’s not quite true. Your body can’t actually digest the rubbery gum base. Instead of absorbing or digesting it, gum passes right through your intestines. So it’s not really “bad” if you swallow a bit of gum, but there are a few things to chew on before you grab your next stick.
Does it really take 7 years to digest gum (aka, what happens when you swallow it)?
No, it doesn’t take your body 7 years to digest gum. In fact, your body doesn’t digest gum at all. But that doesn’t mean it will be forever stuck in your stomach.
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Your digestive system breaks down most of the food you eat. And your body absorbs parts of food as nutrition. But some parts of food can’t be digested. For example, some kinds of fiber pass right through the intestines. And even though you don’t absorb it, it helps keep your bowels moving.
Similar to fiber, your body can’t digest gum, so your body treats it the same way. When you swallow a small amount of gum, it will pass out of your body in your bowel movements within a few days without causing any health issues.
But there have been case reports of gum causing blockages in the digestive system in children and adults. This has only rarely happened with large amounts of gum, or when someone swallowed the gum along with other substances like coins or seeds.
Where did this myth come from?
No one really knows where the myths about swallowing gum came from. But they’ve been around a long time. And lots of people have heard them, like how long gum stays in your stomach or how it sticks to your insides.
Maybe the stories started because people saw the way gum sticks to things or hardens when it’s left to dry. The brain tries to make sense of things you perceive in the world together with what you hear from other people. This can lead to myths and stories passing down, even when they aren’t true.
What is gum made of?
Gum used to be made of chicle, a type of tree sap. But nowadays the gum base is a type of synthetic rubber, which gives it that characteristic chewy feel. The acids and enzymes that normally help you digest your food can’t break down chicle or the human-made rubber in today’s gum.
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But gum isn’t just that rubbery base. Modern chewing gum also includes flavoring, sugar or artificial sweeteners, and other ingredients that help create the right texture. Your body can digest these things, but it’s best to look for sugar-free options.
What if your child swallows their gum?
While swallowing gum is very unlikely to cause any health problems for you, it can be dangerous for some people. For example, the American Academy of Pediatrics says gum chewing is fine, but only after the age of 5 years. For younger kids, gum can be a choking hazard.
And the American Dental Association points out that gum can be part of a good oral health routine, but only if it’s sugar-free. Get medical attention for your child right away if they chew or swallow nicotine gum.
And for people with “fur babies,” or dogs, watch out for gum with xylitol, a common sweetener in sugar-free gum. Dogs can have a severe reaction if they eat gum with xylitol.
The bottom line
Gum is only meant to be chewed, so swallowing lots of it at once could possibly lead to trouble. But in small amounts, it will make its way out of your system with other parts of your food that you can’t digest. Remember that gum can be a choking hazard for children younger than 5 years. And opt for sugar-free options to keep your mouth healthy and happy.
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References
American Chemical Society. (2016). Does gum really stay in your stomach for 7 years? [video].
American Dental Association. (2021). Chewing gum.
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Fiegl, A. (2009). A brief history of chewing gum. Smithsonian Magazine.
GW Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library. (n.d.). Study design 101: Case report.
HealthyChildren.org. (2019). Choking prevention. American Academy of Pediatrics.
Magee, J. S., et al. (2020). Undigested gum found during colonoscopy. ACG Case Reports Journal.
Matson, J. (2007). Fact or fiction?: Chewing gum takes seven years to digest. Scientific American.
McDaniel-Price, A. (n.d.). Xylitol: Artificial sweetener can poison your pet. National Capital Poison Center.
Mekonnen, S. (n.d.). My child ate a cigarette: Here's what to do. National Capital Poison Center.
Milov, D. E., et al. (1998). Chewing gum bezoars of the gastrointestinal tract. Pediatrics.
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