What happens if an adult swallows gum? What happens if you swallow chewing gum? When the chewing gum leaves the body

Many people use chewing gum. Almost everyone has a package of chewing gum in their pockets, purses, briefcases. We are used to it. For some, it helps to drown out the smell of tobacco after smoking a cigarette.

Sometimes it becomes a substitute for a toothbrush and paste if it is not possible to brush your teeth. For some, the process of chewing mint gum becomes a substitute for taking a sedative.

And children love it for its sweet taste and fruity aroma. You can also blow bubbles out of it. And often there is an unconscious desire to swallow the gum. Let's see - why you can not swallow gum?

What is chewing gum made of

Chewing gum does not contain any nutritional useful substances. For its manufacture, only chemical substances: sugar substitutes, flavors and colors. Therefore, swallowing gum and expecting some benefit from it is not worth it.

But, nevertheless, chewing gum refers to food products that must undergo appropriate testing. Therefore, one swallowed chewing gum will not cause significant harm to your body.

The substance from which the base of chewing gum is made can almost completely dissolve in the stomach. But experimenting and swallowing gum is not always worth it. Chewing gum is not pastry. It is designed to freshen your breath. It can be chewed until it loses its pleasant taste and refreshing effect. Then the chewing gum must be discarded.

Nothing bad will happen from one or two swallowed chewing gums. Hydrochloric acid in the stomach is able to dissolve almost all chewing gum. And what does not dissolve, still will not remain inside you. Over time, the remaining chewing gum will be excreted naturally.

If it so happened that you accidentally swallowed gum - drink a glass of clean water. Then the process of removing residues will go faster.

But nevertheless, there are lovers of experiments among us who may think of swallowing gum in large quantities. They should know that the sugar substitute, which is used in the production of chewing gum, if it enters the human body in large quantities, can cause not only constipation or diarrhea, but also provoke stunting and cause nervous disorders.

Why can't you swallow gum? Who shouldn't chew gum.

Most often, small children suffer from swallowed chewing gum. Doctors insist on a complete ban on the use of chewing gum by children under 3 years old. Until the age of 3, children are not able to realize the danger of swallowed chewing gum.
In addition, they still can not control their actions. Older children should not chew chewing gum in bright colors. For them, it is better to choose white chewing gum.
You can not chew, and even more so swallow gum for people with a sick stomach.
It is harmful for both children and adults to chew gum on an empty stomach. The chewing process promotes the production of gastric juice. And everyone knows that hydrochloric acid is present in its composition. Gastric juice, once in an empty stomach, can begin to digest its walls. And this is a direct path to the occurrence of gastritis, and then ulcers.

When buying chewing gum for children, you should pay attention to the warning of psychologists. They found that the constant process of chewing prevents children from concentrating, remembering information, and distracts their attention. As a result, these children have a lower level of thinking and intelligence than their peers.

And, of course, you should not buy and chew poor-quality chewing gum. The harmful chemicals in it can be harmful to your health. Such chewing gum loses its taste very quickly, and begins to taste bitter. You can't chew gum like that.

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Chewing gum is an extremely popular and widespread culinary product, created from an inedible elastic base and various flavoring additives. A typical situation is the swallowing of products by an adult or a child. What happens if a child or adult swallows gum? Can you swallow gum? You will read about this and much more in our article.

What happens if you eat gum

There is a widespread popular opinion that if you accidentally swallow gum, then it is digested by the stomach for several years, can clog the rectum and cause other serious consequences.

In fact, chewing gum does not cause such serious harm. All types of such products go all the way from the esophagus through the stomach to the small, large intestine, after which they leave the body. At the same time, gluing the intestinal walls and other pathological processes does not occur.

The time frame for the dissolution of chewing gum under the influence of acids and enzymes is from 1 to 2 days.

The natural processes described above occur in cases where there has been an accidental or deliberate use of one or more chewing gums, up to a maximum of a whole pack. If you eat 5-10 packs at a time, then with a high degree of probability constipation will form, the treatment of which will require complex therapy.

What to do if a child swallows gum

If the child swallowed a single piece of chewing gum and after this process no negative symptoms are observed for several hours, then no action is needed. After 1-2 days, the chewing gum will dissolve in gastric acid and enzymes, after which it will be excreted naturally with feces.

If signs of constipation appear a few days after the child has eaten gum and there are no other negative manifestations, you can use a laxative that cleanses the intestines. Possible options:

Laxatives with an osmotic effect. They retain fluid in the intestines, soften its contents. Typical representatives are Forlax and Lavacol;
Laxative with irritant effect. They activate peristalsis by irritating the receptors of the large intestine, which leads to a rapid contraction of the walls and the promotion of the contents to the exit. Typical representatives are Guttalax and Bisacodyl;
Prebiotics. They contain lactulose, which increases pressure in the intestinal lumen and promotes the accumulation of fluid, which leads to softening and more active care of stool. Typical representatives are Normaze and Duphalac;
Fillers. The concentrate of dietary fiber, which is not digested by the stomach, quickly enters the intestines and acts as a soft adsorbent, which creates additional pressure on the intestinal walls. Typical representatives are Mucofalk and Citrucel.

What to do if you choke on chewing gum

For health, it is more dangerous not to swallow gum, but to choke on it. The situation is especially critical in relation to the child. Possible first aid actions:

Stand behind the victim, grab his torso with your hands;
Place the palm clenched into a fist in the epigastric region of the person;
Squeeze your fist with the second palm and push it into the person’s stomach with jerks, sharply bending your arms at the elbows;
The procedure is repeated 10-20 times.

Why You Shouldn't Swallow Gum

Potentially possible problems formed as a result of swallowing gum:

Constipation. It can develop when eating a large amount of chewing gum - for example, 5-10 packs in one sitting. Treated with laxatives or enemas;
Suffocation. If in the process of swallowing the gum, the product is stuck in the throat, then urgent measures must be taken to prevent suffocation;
Allergic reaction. It can manifest itself when using chewing gum, which contains potentially possible allergens for the human body, with the obligatory presence of increased sensitivity to them. The therapy procedure consists in the immediate cessation of the use of such products, taking antihistamines and, if necessary, glucocorticosteroids.

What is sweet toffee made of?

Simple prototypes of modern chewing gum have been known since ancient times. So the Greeks at one time used the resin of the mastic tree to clean their teeth. In Siberia, gums were strengthened and teeth were cleaned with a larch substrate. In India, pepper betel leaves, areca palm seeds and lime were used.

Complete industrial production gum started in the mid-1850s. The basis of the composition was exclusively natural components from coniferous resin and light flavors. By the 70s of the 19th century, less expensive rubber began to be used instead of resin.

Over the years, new ingredients have been introduced into the composition of chewing gum, it was completed with a beautiful wrapper, various liners. A modern chewing gum recipe includes the following ingredients:

Chewing base. Synthetic polymers are used;
Resin additive. Resin of coniferous trees or sapodilla juice;
Additional ingredients. Flavoring agents, preservatives, sweeteners, anti-caries agents based on xylitol, urea and fluorine.

In addition to the general composition of gum, the quality of the ingredients and their safety play a significant role.

How chewing gum affects the body

There are a lot of myths about the potential harm of chewing gum. She rewrites an absolutely pathological effect on the entire body, the creation of a predisposition to cancer and other serious consequences for the human body. In fact, scientifically proven the following negative circumstances:

Decreased appetite. The process of chewing on a regular basis stimulates the nerve endings responsible for partial satiety. It will not work to fully lose weight with chewing gum, but it is quite possible to worsen appetite;
Absent-mindedness. Separate research groups from the UK and the United States of America recorded a worsening short term memory a person with constant use of chewing gum;
Development of ulcers and gastritis. The recommended norm is the use of chewing gum for no more than 5 minutes only after eating. It is not recommended to use chewing gum on an empty stomach, since secreted gastric juice can provoke the development of gastritis and ulcers in the medium term;

Decreased protection against caries and other dental problems. Many people mistakenly believe that chewing gum is a substitute for regular toothbrushing. In fact, this product does not clean the interdental space, only briefly relieves the unpleasant odor from oral cavity, while provokes a violation of the integrity of seals, crowns and bridges due to mechanical impact and chemical reaction at the time of the release of saliva containing alkali;
Negative effects on the fetus during pregnancy. All modern chewing gums contain glutamate and aspartame. These substances in small concentrations do not harm the adult body, however, they pose a moderate danger to the developing brain in the initial stages due to secondary excitotoxicity. Accordingly, the use of chewing gum during pregnancy is not recommended.

Use of chewing gum for no more than 5 minutes contract. After this time, all mechanical cleaning properties of the product are absent;
Chewing gum only after eating. Chewing on an empty stomach provokes excess secretion of gastric juice, which in the long term leads to gastritis and ulcers;
A selection of quality chewing gum. For regular use, it is recommended to purchase only high-quality products that have been certified and sold through pharmacy chains. It can be chewing gum with menthol or eucalyptus. You should not choose too sweet flavored products of unusual shades.

Precautionary measures

All children love chewing gum, first of all, not so much because of the taste properties, but thanks to beautiful design, the presence of liners. Despite the fact that this product does not cause irreparable harm to the child's body, however, it must be used with caution, respecting the following rules:

Minimum age. You can give chewing gum to children no earlier than 6-7 years, while explaining the rules of use and precautions;
Limited time. Chewing gum is recommended to use no more than 5-10 minutes and only after eating. If a child chews products uncontrollably and daily, this will lead to gastroenterological problems;
Compound. Chewing gum for children should not contain a large amount of sugar, as the risks of deterioration in the quality of tooth enamel increase.

As a child, were you also scared of all kinds of heavenly punishments, including a painful death when you swallowed chewing gum? You have grown up and now you are wondering if this is really harmful?
Let's get this over with, once and for all!

Chewing gum is meant to be chewed, obviously. But sometimes bad accidents happen.
Perhaps you swallow it with a sip of water ... Or maybe you just had nowhere to spit it out!
And you may have heard stories of chewing gum staying in your stomach for seven months, seven years, or some other absurdly long period.
The gum-swallowing myths were super popular when you were a kid, weren't they? Perhaps you still believe in the sad versions you heard as a child of what will happen.

So what really happens when you swallow gum?

Gastroenterologist Lisa Ganju, associate professor of medicine at NYU Langon Medical Center, answered the question of what happens in your digestive system when you swallow gum (and is it bad).

In general, it can be said that chewing gum passes through your digestive tract like any other food - but is not completely digested.
“If your digestive system can handle a tough steak, it can handle chewing gum,” Ganju explains. Acids and enzymes are really able to cope with it. The only subtle point is that the chewing gum does not completely dissolve due to its chemical properties, and its residues are not absorbed in the small intestine. And, of course, there is no special period of time during which it "does not digest."

So yes, it can actually come out naturally!
And no, it will not stick to the intestines and form a huge "stone" of chewing gum. Even if it doesn't dissolve completely, Ganju says, it will simply be carried out along with other fecal matter, like, say, an unopened popcorn grain. The only time you'd be concerned about swallowing gum is if it's too big to pass through your esophagus, but you probably wouldn't think of swallowing it, and it's certainly hard to swallow without noticing!

Experts, however, advise against swallowing gum, but not for the reasons you might think.
“Chewing gum has absolutely no nutritional value. That is why it should not be swallowed,” says Ganju. Besides, the whole point of gum is to chew it until the flavor is gone and then spit it out. "Gum won't hurt you or kill you, but it's counterintuitive to swallow it," adds Ganju.
And do not swallow large amounts of gum - you can simply choke on them. But the same recommendations are true for any large pieces of food.

That way the gum won't stay in your stomach and kill you. But it's still worth spitting it out.
So why is this myth of irreparable consequences so popular? Apparently, this is just a misunderstanding of the fact that chewing gum is not completely digested. But just because it is not digested and absorbed does NOT mean that it stays inside you! "It's like the myth that you will grow an apple tree inside if you swallow an apple seed," says Ganju. There are a lot of myths about health, and some of them are hard to dispel.

In addition, often artists find already chewed gum best use. For example, Douglas Copeland's Gum Head.

The composition of chewing gum is quite simple. It includes:

base or chicle;
fragrances;
sweeteners.

The most dangerous ingested component of all of the above is the base, everything else is digested in the stomach without problems. Chicle is made up of resins, elastomers, waxes, emulsifiers and fats. When chewing gum enters the body, its outer shell and sweeteners are first broken down by the action of saliva. The base under the action of gastric juice and its enzymes loses its stickiness and also dissolves.

Is it dangerous for a baby to swallow gum? Chewing gum that gets into the stomach will not harm the child's body. It does not have sharp edges or poisonous ingredients in the composition, it will not scratch the palate and damage the esophagus. Chewing gum is safe as any non-food item eaten, which the body will get rid of after a few days.

The most dangerous ingested component of all of the above is the base, everything else is digested in the stomach without problems. Chicle is made up of resins, elastomers, waxes, emulsifiers and fats. When chewing gum enters the body, its outer shell and sweeteners are first broken down by the action of saliva. The base under the action of gastric juice and its enzymes loses its stickiness and also dissolves.

Digestive disorders

This is the most obvious effect if a child has swallowed gum. It manifests itself in different ways, because a negative result from the digestive system happens in several forms. In order to correctly correlate causes and effects, let's pay attention to how this happens.

When chewing gum leads to food poisoning

Food poisoning is possible only if you swallow poor-quality chewing gum, consisting of poisonous and toxic ingredients. Unfortunately, such chewing gum still exists, and all over the world. And it's not even about underground factories producing fakes. Even completely legal chewing gum manufacturers supply chewing gum with toxic substances to stores, the harmfulness of which has not yet been “proven”.

Alas, it’s quite difficult for non-specialists to “poke” a finger into bad chewing gum, so just don’t swallow chewing gum of unknown people. trademarks.

What to do if you swallowed chewing gum with poison?

The first step is to induce vomiting (if you still don't have any) and see if you can get rid of the toxic gum that way. If it worked out, observe the reaction of the “patient's” body and decide according to the circumstances, if not, go to the hospital. Let them decide how to help the victim.

When swallowing gum causes an allergy attack

Sometimes an allergy is manifested from one chewing gum, but it is much more likely that the body will react inadequately with a large number of swallowed chewing gums. Do not think that this does not happen, because often children and adults do not understand the dangers of chewing gum. They swallow on a dare, out of curiosity, through negligence - in general, it happens.

What to do if you swallow gum with an allergen?

If after an adult or child has swallowed the gum, they show signs of an allergy, first take an antiallergic drug and try to "extract" the gum with vomiting. In parallel, find out how much destructive rubber was swallowed in order to understand if there is something else left in the body.

It will be possible to “drive out” the chewing gum on your own - watch the “swallower” with a vial (or whatever you have) of an antiallergic drug. If the chewing gum does not come out or there was a lot of it, go to the hospital, as it is quite possible that it will be difficult to do without professional doctors in this case.

Diarrhea

To get diarrhea, you have to chew several packs of chewing gum a day. If you swallow gum, you will need much less.

Because given fact raises doubts among many people who at one time swallowed more than a dozen chewing gums (usually at different times), then let me quote the data from the English medical journal The Lancet (the entire next paragraph).

Each chewing gum contains some kind of sweetener (sorbitol, xylitol, mannitol or maltitol), which is also a laxative. Therefore, ingestion of a large dose of one of them promises you diarrhea, and sometimes flatulence or abdominal pain. It should be noted that other symptoms are also possible.

The same publication describes a slightly different case when the boy chewed about ten packs of gum a day, after which his heart accelerated twice - up to 147 beats per minute, trips to the toilet "for little need" became more frequent and excessive aggression appeared. And all this because of the tiny dose of caffeine in each piece of chewing gum, which simply “summed up”.

Perhaps, when swallowing, it is also possible to achieve such serious “results”, because if a child swallows several of these chewing gums, his level of excitation can noticeably jump, his heart speeds up, well, further according to the scenario.

So, if swallowed chewing gum caused diarrhea - get rid of chewing gum and drink plenty of fluids (water, compote).

Constipation

How much chewing gum is digested? If only one serving is swallowed, then the digestion process will take some 6-10 hours, maybe a little more. But what happens if you swallow gum the size of a small cupcake?

You say it doesn't happen? Hmm ... If you believe the publication in the American magazine "Pediatrix", then this happens. By the way, it is not necessary to swallow the whole lump at once, because you can gradually - plate after plate ... Apparently, this was done by two 4-year-old children of different sexes, from whose rectum, after prolonged constipation, weighty lumps of chewing gum were extracted.

Better be on the lookout. And if that - immediately to the doctor.

What is hazardous to health in the composition

To make this delicacy, manufacturers use many ingredients.

The gum base includes:

natural or synthetic latexes;
resins;
paraffin;
talc;
calcium carbonate;
sweeteners;
flavoring additives;
dyes;
stabilizers;
preservatives.

If chewing gum is often swallowed, the chemicals can cause significant harm to the child:

The presence of the stabilizer E330 and E422 leads to blood diseases.
The presence of the food additive E320 during the accumulation of the substance in the body leads to an increase in the content of cholesterol in the blood.
E322 disrupts the digestive system.
Sweeteners often cause diarrhea and can cause kidney stones in children.
Saccharin can start the growth of a malignant tumor.
Menthol and butyl often cause an allergic reaction and inflammation of the skin around the mouth.
Carbamide E927 causes diseases of the oral cavity.
Tartrazine E102 causes asthma attacks. Apple flavored gum is toxic and not recommended for infants and young children.
E129 or Charming Red AC is a carcinogen.

What happens if you swallow gum several times?

If the baby has a weak immune defense and his endocrine system does not function well, it increases the risk of getting a general intoxication of the body, which can take the form of diarrhea, rash, decreased immunity, fever.

A healthy baby may feel nothing and calmly survive this event. With the constant swallowing of chewed lumps, other consequences can be observed, the symptoms of which will appear after some time.

First aid

What to do if the child swallowed and began to choke due to a piece stuck in the throat? If any foreign object enters the respiratory system, due to which suffocation began, you need to turn the baby upside down and knock him on the back.

He will reflexively scream, and the lump will be able to go back and fall out of his mouth. This technique should be known to all parents, because children often choke on food while eating and chewing. If this does not help, you need to urgently call ambulance.

If the child swallowed the gum, what should the parent do at this moment if there are no signs of suffocation and the baby feels fine? In this case, the child needs to be fed bulk food for several days.

Chewing gum is a delicacy made from an inedible base richly flavored with flavoring and aromatic additives, food coloring. Dentists recommend using sugar-free chewing gum every time after eating, if there is no other way to brush your teeth and rinse your mouth.

The viscous substance helps to remove food particles stuck between the teeth and prevents the formation of plaque.

It is also one of the most favorite treats for children. Whatever flavors, shapes and sizes gum is produced: in balls, plates, ribbons, inside caramel, all kinds of geometric shapes. Adults prefer chewing gums with refreshing flavors, children are more likely to choose fruit and berry gums.

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This delicacy is not to be swallowed. Taking a fresh plate, you can chew it for no more than 10 minutes, and then throw it away. During this time, the product will fulfill its hygienic properties and lose its taste. Discarded chewing gum in a hot climate will decompose for at least three decades, and in a cold one it can lie for centuries. If this substance is so resistant to decay, what will happen to the gum if it is swallowed by a child or an adult?

To discourage children from this delicacy, adults invent various horror stories, such as “Swallow gum, and it will always be inside you! The intestines will stick together and the stomach will hurt! Is it true? Is an accidentally swallowed lump really that dangerous to health?

As soon as chewing gum enters our mouth, the body applies various measures for its digestion. First, saliva with its digestive enzymes is used. Then, if the chewing gum has been swallowed, the gastric digestive juices are included in the work. With those substances that the body cannot cope with, it usually breaks up, that is, it looks for ways to remove them. After numerous tests, it was found that the rubber ball will completely leave the body in 24-48 hours.

Seems like no problem. However, doctors do not recommend swallowing gum frequently. Since it can accumulate and subsequently make it difficult to defecate. Watch how the child eats chewing gum, and if he accidentally swallowed it, then you need to do the following:

you can try to induce vomiting so that the chewing lump comes out. Be careful here so that the child does not choke;
let the baby drink more, this will speed up the metabolic processes and contribute to the fastest removal of the foreign body from the body;
improves the work of the digestive tract vegetable fiber, which is abundant in vegetables and fruits;
if no action has resulted in positive result, go to the hospital, experts will prompt the right decision.

Although it is argued that accidentally swallowed chewing gum will not harm health, and after a certain period it will be excreted from the body naturally, there are still negative consequences of this negligence. In children, atypical reactions are more often observed, since their body is not as strong as in adults.

The gum may not get into the esophagus, but into the respiratory tract, and the baby simply choke. You need to cough well, provoke spitting out the gum back. The child needs to be tilted face down and a good knock between the shoulder blades. It is not recommended to pull out a foreign body from the larynx on your own. In extremely severe cases, urgently call an ambulance.
Food poisoning can be triggered by toxic substances found in low-grade chewing gum. Therefore, be careful about the sweets that you give to children. If you are buying chewing gum for your child, take the one that says "for children." In case of poisoning, you need to induce vomiting, rinse the stomach, and take the little patient to the hospital.
Constipation or diarrhea. Such consequences are extremely rare if only one chewing gum is swallowed, and then by accident. But if the child systematically does this, then such stomach upsets can be observed. The composition of sweets includes various nutritional supplements, which in large quantities can provoke an attack of diarrhea (weakening of bowel functions). At the same time, each organism has its own reaction, causing diarrhea in some, and constipation in others. Recommended diet food, more liquid (water, unsweetened compote), medicines directed action.
An allergic reaction can occur not only due to swallowing, but also during chewing. This is explained very simply: the product most likely contained allergen substances for a particular organism. Allergic reactions can be completely different: from skin rashes and itching to swelling of the throat. Help solve the problem antihistamines and maximum exclusion from pathogens.