I swallowed Chewing Gum by mistake yesterday….should i visit the doctor ..?
Gum is no food, and that is precisely the reason why you cannot digest gum. Every chewing gum is made up of, about or less than, 30% gum base. This gum base is either synthetic or natural, and possesses a certain rubber-like quality, rendering it unfit for digestion. Apart from the gum base, chewing gum also contains a variety of other components. Glycerin is used to keep the chewing gum moist, while presence of vegetable oil derivatives maintains softness of the chewing gum. Also present are, artificial colorings, corn syrup or saccharin, preservatives, artificial sweeteners and sugar. Other than the gum base, all other ingredients of a chewing gum are digestible and broken down by the stomach and intestines of the body. Since the gum base is resistant to saliva, digestive acids along the digestive track and even stomach acid, it cannot be broken down and digested.
