Swallowing gum = seven years of bad luck?

As a young child I tried never to swallow my gum, for fear that I would have seven years of bad luck, according to my wise six-year-old friends.  Unlike when I was in first grade, I no longer think twice about swallowing my gum. In situations where I have to get ride of my gum I simply swallow it. Thinking back on the many times my friends warned me never to swallow gum, I find myself wondering “are there any non luck related consequences that result form swallowing gum” ?

According to Dr. Michael F. Picco, “chewing gum is designed to be chewed and not swallowed, but it generally isn’t harmful if swallowed”. Unlike what I was taught in first grade, gum does not stay in your stomach for seven years. Even though gum does not stay in your body for years, the body is not able to digest it. According to gastroenterologist, Dr. Robynne Chutakan, “we don’t have the enzymes to break gum down. But eventually gum does get through the intestine and into the colon, where it is mixed with stool and then excreted”.

Contrary to popular belief, gum can take one, two or even three days, to exit the body. When asked about the time lapse between swallowing gum and it exiting the body Dr. Chutakan says, “it’s always within days, not weeks and certainly not years”.

More often then not swallowing gum will not harm you, however there are incredibly rare occasions when “large amounts of swallowed gum combined with constipation have blocked intestines in children”.  The most dangerous consequence that can result from gum chewing is the potential possibility for children to choke.

According to kidshealth.org, children should not begin chewing gum until around age five. Most pediatricians fear that before five years of age children are unable to understand the difference between candy and gum.

Despite the fact that gum will not stay in your system for seven years, denouncing the “seven years of bad luck” belief, it is best to avoid swallowing your gum. When dealing with young children you must be aware of the fact that gum can be a choking hazard. So the next time you take a piece of your favorite chewing gum remember that if you accidentally swallow it your luck will be no better off then it was before.

 

GumVar

 

Resources:

http://www.impressionsinflight.com/images/GumVar.jpg

http://www.webmd.com/children/features/swallowing-gum

http://kidshealth.org/kid/talk/yucky/swallowed_gum.html

http://www.mayoclinic.org/digestive-system/expert-answers/faq-20058446

2 thoughts on “Swallowing gum = seven years of bad luck?

  1. Kathleen Harward

    I found this post very interesting because I was told the same thing growing up. I honestly am still hesitant to swallow gum to this day because of it! It’s good to know that gum doesn’t actually stay in your stomach for seven years. I wonder why people started telling kids this in the first place.

  2. Alexandra Elisabeth Monahan

    This was such an interesting blog to read! Ever since I was little I have heard so many different things about what will happen if I swallow my gum. I heard it will get stuck to the side of my stomach, bad luck, etc. Even today, I am hesitant to swallow my gum. It is nice to know that nothing bad can result from swallowing gum.

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