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“It’s generally not a problem,” says paediatric gastroenterologist Esther Israel of the North American Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.
Gum will almost always pass through your gut within three days. But in rare cases, swallowing gum — specifically, the additives in some brands — can have surprising repercussions.
Large amounts of sorbitol, a sweetener in many sugar-free varieties, can cause diarrhoea, gas and abdominal pain; cinnamon flavouring has been linked to ulcers; and a licorice flavouring has been associated with high blood pressure. An even rarer complication observed mainly in young children involves a large wad of gum blocking the gastrointestinal tract.
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