Is swallowing chewing gum dangerous?

According to Retaildata.co.uk, us Brits are the second biggest consumers of gum in the world. On average, Brits use between 120 and 130 sticks each every year! Now despite that, many people don’t really know what chewing gum is actually made up of. We know that the minty freshness helps with bad breath and that maybe there’s some connection to oral hygiene, but that’s about it. Oh and of course we’ve heard that terrible things can happen if you swallow chewing gum. You could get appendicitis, the gum could stay stuck in your stomach for years, blocking your intestines. So, are they old wives’ tales or should you really be afraid? What’s actually in chewing gum then? Are there any health risks associated with chewing gum? What about if you accidentally swallow a piece of gum then?  To listen to the last episodes, you can click here : ⁠Why do doctors advise against chewing gum?⁠ ⁠Is holding back a sneeze dangerous?⁠ ⁠Is it dangerous to drink too much water?⁠ A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First broadcast: 23/04/2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices