Patient's question:
My second aunt owns a shop. Every time I take my son there to play, he loves to eat chewing gum. At first, we taught him to spit it out, and he knew he should, but recently I noticed he hasn't been spitting it out. What should I do about this? Does it have any impact on his health?Doctor's answer:
Although it is not recommended to swallow gum, it is perfectly fine to do so. There is no need to worry too much. Who hasn't accidentally swallowed gum as a child? The gum base in gum is not easily digested, and most of it can be excreted through the stool. Additionally, you can eat some rough fiber foods to stimulate intestinal movement.Doctors point out that the inner walls of the human digestive tract are smooth and secrete a large amount of mucus, making it impossible for gum to stick. If swallowed, it will naturally pass out of the body without the need for surgery. However, to avoid any accidents, it is best not to give gum to children, as it offers no benefits and could be very problematic if accidentally inhaled into the airways.