Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

Is Swallowing Gum Harmful?

This morning I accidentally swallowed gum when laughing and had a feeling in my throat, idk if it s just me like I wasn t thinking bout it and didn t feel it than right now I m freak ing out and idk what if something wrong. Is it just me or is it really just stuck
Mon, 27 Jun 2016
Report Abuse
General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi,
Thanks for posting in HCM.
I understand your concern.
Chewing gum is a soft, cohesive substance designed to be chewed without being swallowed.
Although chewing gum is designed to be chewed and not swallowed, it generally isn't harmful if swallowed.
Modern chewing gum today is made from butadiene-based synthetic rubber. Most chewing gums are considered polymers (resin).
Many people think that swallowed gum sits in your stomach for many years before it can be digested. But this isn't true.
If you swallow gum, it is true that your body can not digest it. But the gum doesn't stay in your stomach. It moves relatively intact through your digestive system and is excreted in your stool.
On rare occasions, swallowing large amounts of chewing gum combined, along with constipation can cause intestinal obstruction, especially in children.
Hence, there is nothing much to worry about. Kindly take soft and fibre rich diet for a couple of days and drink good quantity of fluids so as to facilitate easy evacuation of it in stools.
Hope the information provided would be helpful.
All the best.
I find this answer helpful
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 

Related questions you may be interested in


Loading Online Doctors....
Is Swallowing Gum Harmful?

Hi, Thanks for posting in HCM. I understand your concern. Chewing gum is a soft, cohesive substance designed to be chewed without being swallowed. Although chewing gum is designed to be chewed and not swallowed, it generally isn t harmful if swallowed. Modern chewing gum today is made from butadiene-based synthetic rubber. Most chewing gums are considered polymers (resin). Many people think that swallowed gum sits in your stomach for many years before it can be digested. But this isn t true. If you swallow gum, it is true that your body can not digest it. But the gum doesn t stay in your stomach. It moves relatively intact through your digestive system and is excreted in your stool. On rare occasions, swallowing large amounts of chewing gum combined, along with constipation can cause intestinal obstruction, especially in children. Hence, there is nothing much to worry about. Kindly take soft and fibre rich diet for a couple of days and drink good quantity of fluids so as to facilitate easy evacuation of it in stools. Hope the information provided would be helpful. All the best.