Chewing gum has a long history spanning thousands of years, where different civilizations chewed on natural materials such as resin or tree sap. However, the modern iteration of chewing gum emerged in the 19th century. It was during this time that John Curtis from Maine, USA, introduced the first commercially successful spruce gum. This gum was crafted from spruce tree sap and sweetened with sugar, marking a significant development in the evolution of chewing gum.
Today, chewing gums typically consist of a gum base, sweeteners, flavorings, and sometimes softeners or preservatives. The specific ingredients and proportions can vary between brands and products. The gum base provides the characteristic chewy texture, and is responsible for giving the gum its elasticity, allowing it to be chewed for extended periods without disintegrating. It is also the same reason why many people believe that swallowing chewing gum is bad— that it gets stuck in the stomach for 7 years.
But what is the truth?
DOES CHEWING GUM STAYS IN YOUR STOMACH FOR YEARS?
Chewing gum does not linger in the stomach for an extended period. Unlike food items that undergo extensive digestion, chewing gum is not broken down in the same way. This is especially the case if the gum base is synthetic. The synthetic nature of the gum base makes the chewing gum to pass through the digestive system relatively quickly, typically within a few days. The digestive process eventually expels it from the body through bowel movements.
One of the most commonly used synthetic gum bases includes petroleum-derived polymers like butadiene-styrene or polyvinyl acetate. These are food-grade additives, and have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as safe for use in the manufacture of chewing gum. During the early days of chewing gum manufacturing, gum bases made from natural sources such as chicle (from the Sapodilla tree), spruce sap, or beeswax were common.
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The belief that chewing gum remains in your stomach for years has roots in misunderstandings about digestion and the composition of gum. Despite its persistence, there’s no scientific basis for this notion. The myth likely emerged due to a lack of understanding about how the body processes gum and the fact that it doesn’t break down like other foods.
The myth may also have been perpetuated by anecdotal accounts or stories passed down through generations, further solidifying its place in popular belief. Despite efforts by medical professionals to debunk the myth and educate the public about the digestive process, it has persisted over time.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS TO A CHEWING GUM AFTER INGESTION?
Unlike food items that undergo enzymatic breakdown in the stomach and subsequent digestion in the intestines, the gum base’s synthetic nature renders it resistant to the body’s digestive processes. Specifically, the gum base consists of polymers and resins that resist dissolution in the acidic environment of the stomach and are not recognized by the digestive enzymes present. Instead of being broken down like traditional foodstuffs, gum traverses through the gastrointestinal tract largely unchanged.
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Once in the intestines, the gum encounters the peristaltic contractions that propel food and other materials through the digestive tract. Despite lacking nutritional value, the gum may undergo partial mechanical breakdown, facilitated by the movement of intestinal muscles, which help push it along its journey. Throughout this process, the digestive system continues its normal function of absorbing nutrients and fluids from ingested substances, leaving behind the indigestible components of the gum.
While our digestive system can’t break down chewing gum, it usually passes harmlessly through the digestive tract within a few days and exits the body with your stool during a bowel movement.
Although swallowing chewing gum does not really cause harm, there is no real reason for you to do it. Chewing gums are not intended for swallowing, and should be disposed of properly after use. Still, swallowed chewing gum can potentially lead to digestive discomfort or, in rare cases, intestinal blockages.
