What happens when a child eats chewing gum?

It is not uncommon for children to eat chewing gum. Chewing gum contains gum base, which is a substance that is difficult for the human body to digest. So it is naturally impossible to digest it when it enters the child's body. It can only be slowly pushed down through the digestive tract and finally excreted from the body. It may take up to one or two weeks. This is not good for the child's body, and chewing gum can easily cause severe diarrhea.

1. The ingredients of chewing gum are relatively complex, and generally contain sugars, gum base, food additives, flavorings and other substances. The additives used in chewing gum generally include food coloring, antioxidants, lubricants, etc. Different types of chewing gum have different sources of sweetness. There are ordinary chewing gums that use white sugar or syrup, or sugar-free chewing gums that use xylitol or sorbitol to prevent tooth decay.

2. Among these ingredients, the most basic is the gum base, which is the part that allows us to chew. Originally, the gum base was made of chicle resin collected from red pine trees, but the output of natural chicle resin is small. Now most chewing gums are replaced by other natural or synthetic ingredients.

3. Regardless of whether the gum base is made from natural or synthetic ingredients, it cannot be digested by the human digestive system. But it will not remain in the stomach and intestines forever after being swallowed. The human body has another way to deal with this kind of indigestible things: just push it down along the digestive tract until it reaches the end one day and is excreted. This journey does not take 7 years as the scary legend says. In fact, whether it is chewing gum or other similar foreign objects, it takes about 1-2 days to a week for the human body to excrete them.

4. Chewing gum can cause bloating

Chewing gum will increase saliva secretion and keep the mouth in a high metabolic state for a long time. Secreting too much unnecessary saliva is actually not good for the body. Moreover, if you like to chew outdoors, a lot of air will be filled into the stomach, causing bloating and uncomfortable.

The ingredients of chewing gum are complex. Even if it can be excreted from the body in one or two weeks, or even faster, in a few days, it is of no benefit to the child's growth. In severe cases, the chewing gum may enter the body and cause severe diarrhea and abdominal distension. Therefore, parents should pay attention to guide their children not to eat too much chewing gum or swallow it.