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By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D., About.com Guide to Chemistry since 2001

Chewing Gum Facts

Thursday November 9, 2006
Chewing Gum
© Gamerzero
You've probably heard that if you swallow your chewing gum, it will stay in your stomach for seven years. If gum stayed in your stomach, it would dissolve in the highly acidic environment (pH 1-3) long before the seven years had passed. Gum doesn't stay in your stomach, but continues on into your intestines, eventually finding its way out of your system in pretty much the same condition as when you swallowed it. In rare cases, however, frequently swallowing your gum could lead to the development of an intestinal stone, called a bezoar or enterolith. These form when a difficult-to-digest substance gets tangled or trapped, eventually calcifying and basically becoming a permanent addition to your digestive system. Do you know what gum is made from that makes it so difficult to break down? Learn more...

Comments

October 22, 2007 at 6:06 pm
(1) Hollie Hanson says:

So in my english class the other day a kid asked me for some gum, and he really had some in his mouth. But I said to him that he already had some gum, so he swallowed it! I said to him didn’t u know that it stays in your stomach for 7 years?

January 14, 2008 at 3:17 pm
(2) natalie says:

omg!!!
dats soo scary man!!!
xxxxx

April 3, 2008 at 12:56 pm
(3) kate-lynn says:

wierd id. man!

August 26, 2008 at 3:24 pm
(4) dseanna gentle says:

omg!!!!!! i swallowed gum before andd i went crazy it was like omg!totallyl.o.l

October 21, 2008 at 9:17 am
(5) lollipop says:

i like gum

October 21, 2008 at 9:23 pm
(6) Weenoo says:

hahaha i always swallow gum =P hehe lool

October 21, 2008 at 9:24 pm
(7) weenoo '11 says:

hahaha i always swallow gum :P :P hehe lool

October 28, 2008 at 7:34 pm
(8) Denne says:

hahaha i love guum

November 14, 2008 at 11:09 am
(9) Gum lover says:

I LOVE gum now i hate it(mabe stride) =P

January 28, 2009 at 10:23 pm
(10) Sad Boy says:

I like gum I also really likes 5 gum and Stride they are the best but i never new that Thanks =)

March 5, 2009 at 3:53 pm
(11) Evan Clark says:

you ROCK

March 9, 2009 at 2:51 pm
(12) rayray says:

gum is the best thing u can chew. i luv the blue 5 gum

March 17, 2009 at 2:17 pm
(13) veronica says:

hehehehehehe yeahhh im bored

May 7, 2009 at 1:14 am
(14) shivang chaudhary (NIPER) says:

it,s ok if chewing gum stays instomach for 7 years without affecting any organ, but it is dangerous if it develops an intestinal stone, called a bezoar or enterolith,which require surgery…

May 7, 2009 at 2:28 pm
(15) jordie says:

wow u are cool

May 18, 2009 at 4:31 am
(16) shazad says:

hello

May 18, 2009 at 11:50 am
(17) Hunter ward says:

shes hot~! :)

June 17, 2009 at 7:24 am
(18) superboy says:

WEll ur calling her hot the wait till u see paige wehner !! …u ll wet ur pants!!

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