I will admit one of my deepest, darkest secrets to you if you promise not to tell anyone. Here it goes….I swallow gum. And I don’t mean every now and again on accident. I chew gum just about every day. And I swallow it more often than I throw it away. Isn’t that gross?
This morning I got to thinking when I was swallowing my Trident that I should probably do a little research to find out what happens when I swallow the gum. I mean, I know that it is an old wives’ tale that it stays in your stomach for seven years. But does it really hurt you in any other way?
As far as I can tell from my research, there are no negative side effects to swallowing gum. However, your body does NOT break it down. It pretty much looks the same when it comes out that it did when it went in (not that I have ever noticed this). There are a few reports about kids who ate way too much bubble gum and it ended up getting stuck. But they were young children and they were literally swallowing piece after piece on a daily basis.
So I’m not a doctor, but I did do my homework. And while certainly no one would advise you to swallow bubble gum, it also appears that swallowing a piece or two a day is not going to hurt you. Good thing, because I just bought a whole new pack.
8 responses so far ↓
1 Angie // Mar 19, 2008 at 3:12 pm
You crack me up! I never would have taken you for a gum swallower! I truly learn something new everyday.
2 cate // Mar 20, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I’ve always wondered what would happen as well. Luckily I can’t chew gum too much so I don’t swallow it as often as some so I won’t have to worry about how long its staying in me.
3 Allison // Aug 7, 2008 at 3:26 am
dude i do that
but like so much
when i start eating gum i can go through 5 packs in a day and i swallow it all
i swear im gonna die hahaha
4 Jakivia // Nov 30, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Your right!!!!!! There are kids that don’t know any better and they keep on swallowing it piece by piece. But what I think that when you swallow gum it can cause constipation and it is a bad thing and another thing it take 7 years to get rid of it. But nothing is going to happen to you because you just swallow it once.
5 Krystal // Mar 10, 2009 at 9:45 am
Omg yay im not alone! I swallow gum like CRAZY its such a horrible habit..I usualy eat the “Cry Baby” gum. I had to do my homework also. But it makes me feel better to know that i have someone to relate too. But yeah i swallow gum A LOT!. Contact me please! sweetgurlznumba1@yahoo.com or krystal_newmoon@hotmail.com
6 adena // May 30, 2009 at 9:41 pm
you realy make me laugh i always swollowed gum till i nearly choked on a peice then i never did it again
7 Tiffany A? // Jul 6, 2009 at 3:54 pm
I also swallow a lot of gum! I love it, and my friends think I am a freak! Thank Goodness I am not alone, hahaha!
8 megan // Sep 29, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Omg i am so happy i am not alone… i was so scared it would stay in my belly and it would never comeout!!
Leave a Comment