What happens if you swallow gum(吞口香糖) by accident? You might have heard that gum stays in your stomach for up to seven years. But is that true? Beth Czerwony, a doctor at Cleveland Clinic, will explain what really happens when a piece of gum makes its way into your stomach.
Is it bad to swallow gum?
Swallowing one piece of gum every now and then isn't likely to do any harm. But you shouldn't make a habit of swallowing gum, as that can do some damage.
Gum base is largely synthetic(人工合成的). It's nondigestible which means your body can't break it down like it does other foods." So it just stays in your stomach all the way through," Czerwony explains.
Does gum stay in your stomach for seven years?
Don't worry: Gum doesn't stay in your stomach for seven years or even seven days.
" If you' ve swallowed a piece of gum, it' ll come out about 40 hours later in your stool(粪便)," Czerwony says." Because it can't be digested, it comes right out whole."
When should you go to your doctor?
Swallowing one piece of gum probably won't hurt you, but beyond that, be careful. Dr. Czerwony warns that too much at a time can cause an intestinal blockage(肠道阻塞)." Anything you eat after that isn't going to be able to get through, which leads to pain and pressure." she says.