It is harmful to swallow a gum (like bubble gum) or it just a taboo?

Answer 1

no. its not harmfull as far as i know even i swallow
it

Answer 2

Almost everyone has swallowed a piece of gum. But only a very few people ever need to see a doctor because of it.

Chewing gum is made up of the gum itself (called gum resin), preservatives, flavorings, and sweeteners. The human body is unable to digest the gum resin. But swallowed gum does not stay in the stomach or cause intestinal problems. That's because our bodies move most materials that can't be digested (like gum) through the digestive system and out of our bodies in a bowel movement.

In very rare cases, swallowing a large mass of gum, or many small pieces of gum over a short period of time, can block the digestive tract. Blockages in the digestive system are most likely to happen when gum is swallowed along with other non-digestible things (like sunflower seed hulls).

Although people cannot digest gum resin, we can digest the things that have been added to chewing gum, such as sweeteners or even medications (think of the nicotine gum used by people trying to quit smoking). The body absorbs these just through the act of chewing

Answer 3

Although gum is indeed indigestible due to its gum base, swallowing gum won't harm your body at all (assuming you don't choke on the wad). The whole "it will stay in your stomach for seven years" is just a myth, although the gum will still be quite unchanged once it comes out the other end.

Answer 4

It's not a taboo, it's a myth...that's the word. You must be Pinoy....because that's something they tell the kids there about swallowing bubblegum. It's definitely a myth, unless maybe you swallow hundreds of them in an hour...lol....or instead of swallowing it , it goes into your windpipe, which is why you shouldn't give bubblegum to little kids. It's funny, because Pinoys swallow huge sampalok seeds and we don't worry about it, but we do about bubble gum...but that's a different story. Sige na po.

Answer 5

I HOPE THIS HELPS!

It's true that chewing gum base is indigestible, but humans consume a great many things that are indigestible. (You ever try Crispy Critters?) All such roughage is simply eliminated from the body after the usual jog down the alimentary canal.
Chewing gum is a type of soluble fiber and therefore, it passes through and out of our body. Although it is not advised to swallow chewing gum, it is not considered harmful.

AFTER RESEARCHING, I ALSO FOUND THIS WHICH PROVES THAT THAT OLD MYTH OF IT STAYING IN OUR STOMACHS FOR LIKE 7 YEARS ISN'T TRUE AFTERALL, THANK GOODNESS!!

Don’t swallow your gum or it will stay in your stomach.
FALSE
“Gum will pass through your GI (gastrointestinal) tract in a natural time course of one to three days,” Koszyk said. “If you have trouble with your stomach already it could take longer, but generally it won’t stay there long.”

Answer 6

It is taboo. I think that you just digest it. Think of the texture of gum after it has been chewed for half an hour. There are stronger acids in the stomach, so I think that it gets digested completely. In the worst case, which I doubt, it will come out the other end whole; it cannot stick to anything unless its moisture is significantly decreased.

Answer 7

No it's not harmful, but I was told as a child that if you swallowed gum, it would stay in your stomach for seven years. Kind of like bad stuff in your credit report.

Answer 8

Actually, I don't think it is harmful to swallow gum. I mean I have swallowed my gum before, espically when I am nervous and nothing has ever happened to me!! This myth is busted!

Answer 9

I think it's just taboo i have been chewing and swallowing gum for years. it has not had an affect on me so far.

Answer 10

Its harmful as it could get stuck in your wind pipe and that could result in chokeing you up. Never eat a gum.

Answer 11

A way it can be harmful is if it is lodged in your throat or if it goes into your trachea (windpipe). If it swallows like food, it should pass through your digestive system and be defecated.