Many people who chew gum have experienced this moment when you want to throw it away, but there is no dustbin or tissue nearby.
Since sticking it under a desk or table feels inappropriate, some people choose the easier option swallowing it. This often leads to a common question: what really happens when chewing gum is swallowed?
For many years, a popular myth has circulated that swallowed gum stays in the stomach for up to seven years...To Read The Full Content; Tap Here Now .
However, health experts say this claim is not true. According to information shared by Cleveland Clinic through its Health Essentials platform, swallowing a single piece of gum occasionally is generally not harmful.
When you swallow gum, your digestive system treats it like most other foods you eat. While the body cannot fully break down the gum base the rubbery ingredient that gives chewing gum its chewy texture the rest of the ingredients such as sweeteners and flavorings can still be digested.
The gum base itself simply passes through the digestive tract and eventually leaves the body in stool.
Doctors explain that the digestive system is designed to move indigestible materials along the intestines until they are expelled naturally.
In most cases, swallowed gum travels through the digestive system within a few days just like other undigested food particles.
However, experts warn that swallowing gum frequently is not a good idea. According to Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials, making a habit of swallowing gum could lead to digestive issues over time.
In rare cases, especially in children, large amounts of swallowed gum may combine with other indigestible materials and cause a blockage in the digestive tract.
Because of this possibility, health professionals recommend disposing of chewing gum properly rather than swallowing it.
Carrying a tissue or looking for a nearby bin can help avoid the temptation to swallow it.
While swallowing gum once in a while is unlikely to cause harm, it is still best treated as something meant to be chewed and discarded not eaten.
So the next time you finish chewing gum and can’t find a bin immediately, it may be worth holding onto it for a moment rather than swallowing it.