Yesterday I and my 24-year-old girlfriend were in restaurant. We were talking about chewing gums. She told me that it isn't dangerous to swallow a chewing gum. When we were talking she was chewing a gum. She told me that she will swallow her gum right now and nothing will happen. She slowly took the gum back toward her throat, made a gulp and swallowed her chewing gum. Then she told me that she had already swallowed her gum and couldn't feel it anymore. She told me that swallowed gum couldn't hurt her so not to worry. Then we left the restaurant and talked about other issues. She later told me that there is nothing dangerous, she couldn't feel the gum anymore and she has no stomachache . . . She told me that it is in her stomach and then will come out and laughed. So isn't it dangerous? Is she really right?
2006-08-28 23:05:27 · 13 answers · asked by nodarchkhaiani1985 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
It isn't dangerous. You shouldn't eat a bunch of it, but the old wives tale used to say that the rubber-like substance in the gum wouldn't be digested for 10yrs or so.
However, this is just a myth. Chewing gum is digested and passed normally, just like any other food.
Hope this helps!
2006-08-28 23:12:27 · answer #1 · answered by Shofix 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
even though chewing gum is not digestable, it is not dangerous...in fact, gum actually might help things move through the bowels faster, Sorbitol is sometimes used as a sweetener in gum and this can act as a laxative, What dies this mean? If you look carefully, you should see it floating next to all of those lovely yellow corn kernels. lol
2006-08-28 23:15:40 · answer #2 · answered by Perfectly Flawed 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You made it VERY clear to eveyone that your girlfriend is 24 years old!!! Okay, so she's not a child and I'm pretty sure she's not out to harm herself.
She'll be fine. It's not danagerous. Think about it: we swallow bigger things everyday and it doesn't hurt us. It's gum. Not a rock!
2006-08-28 23:14:37 · answer #3 · answered by grahamma 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"...it's not the healthiest thing you can do, but if you do swallow your gum, it will simply pass through your system undigested into your stool (much like fiber).
The consensus seems that it's best to toss your chewed-out gum in the trash, but if you do happen to swallow a piece, don't worry -- it won't sit in your tummy for seven years."
2006-08-28 23:14:22 · answer #4 · answered by Candibee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No danger at all it will come out the other end
2006-08-28 23:12:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
not suppose to swallow gum...gum is hard to break down in ur system..takes like five yrs...
2006-08-28 23:11:13 · answer #6 · answered by stop_lyin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your stomach acids will break up the gum. They're very acidic dissolve almost everything.
2006-08-28 23:09:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its not dangerous but pls tell her not to make it a habit.
2006-08-28 23:15:51 · answer #8 · answered by Heista 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I did it as a kid, and kids still do it all the time. It's o.k your girlfriends system will take care of it.
2006-08-28 23:14:08 · answer #9 · answered by Duckjuice3 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it was dangerous do you think they'd be allowed to sell it? Oops, they sell cigarettes, don't they?
2006-08-28 23:12:25 · answer #10 · answered by Mesper 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋