Patient's question:
Hello, doctor. My baby is now 3 years old. Today, he accidentally found the chewing gum I usually buy and swallowed it all without a trace. I heard that chewing gum contains glue, and I'm very worried about it affecting the child. Please tell me what to do now and whether I need to go to the hospital.Doctor's answer:
Swallowing gum is not dangerous at all. Some people believe that gum and bubblegum are very sticky, and if swallowed accidentally, they could stick to the intestines and cause an intestinal blockage. In fact, there is no significant danger even if gum is swallowed, because although gum contains a certain amount of glue, when it enters the stomach and comes into contact with stomach acid (which has a concentration equivalent to HCl, or hydrochloric acid), it undergoes hydrolysis under the action of acid, along with the help of digestive fluids—enzymes. By the end, the gum has completely changed and is excreted from the body through normal digestive pathways. Therefore, chewing gum is generally not dangerous.