But apart from these strange scenarios, swallowing an occasional piece of gum is harmless. What Exactly Happens to the Gum? Kids shouldn't chew gum until they fully understand the importance of not swallowing it. By age 5, most children will understand that gum is different than candy and is not to be swallowed. Xylitol toxicosis can occur in dogs after ingestion of xylitol or xylitol-containing products. Profound hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is the most common clinical effect, which may result in vomiting, weakness, depression, hypokalemia (extremely low potassium levels), seizures, and/or a coma. Again, though, if your child has swallowed more than one piece of gum, keep a close eye out for any signs of gastrointestinal distress.

Wrigley’s Extra Sugar-free Chewing Gum Refreshing Peppermint

If you’ve swallowed a piece of gum, it’ll come out about 40 hours later in your stool,” Czerwony assures. “Because it can’t be digested, it comes right out whole.” But the human digestive tract can't digest the gum resin. It's moved through the digestive tract by the normal pushing (peristaltic) actions of the gut. The gum's journey ends during a trip to the bathroom. Are Some Kids Too Young for Gum?Though your stomach can't break down a piece of gum the same way it breaks down other food, your digestive system canmove it along through normal intestinal activity. In other words, it comes out the other end when you have a bowel movement (poop). When Is Swallowed Gum a Problem? Has your dog recently eaten chewing gum? Are you wondering what to do if you are in this situation? Read on to find out exactly what action you need to take. A dose of xylitol higher than 34–45 mg/lb (75–100 mg/kg) is thought to cause hypoglycemia in dogs. Doses greater than 227mg/lb have been reported to cause severe liver insufficiency or even liver failure. We don’t yet know exactly why this happens. With that said, do not try to calculate the amount of xylitol your dog may have ingested at home, leave that to your vet. It can be difficult to quantify or estimate and you will be wasting precious time when you could be traveling to the vet. Image credit: Fran__, Pixabay Is Chewed Gum Dangerous to Dogs? But now what?! Rumors say gum stays in your stomach undigested for up to seven years. Registered dietitian Beth Czerwony, RD, LD, debunks this claim and explains what really happens when a piece of gum makes its way into your insides. Is it bad to swallow gum?

Gum? – Cleveland Clinic What Happens If You Swallow Gum? – Cleveland Clinic

Some dogs have developed severe liver damage after xylitol ingestion. Signs of poisoning can develop in as little as 30 minutes to one hour. Dogs are the only domestic species in which a toxic reaction to xylitol has been seen. So if you have younger brothers or sisters, don't offer them gum until they're older and your mom or dad says it's OK. Should Any Kids Chew Gum?Gum base isn’t able to be digested, so it just stays in your guts all the way through and doesn’t break down,” Czerwony explains. Does gum stay in your stomach for seven years? The American Academy of Pediatrics says the occasional piece of gum is OK for children ages 5 and up — just be sure that before giving gum to your child, they understand that it’s not something they should swallow. It’s best to spit it out Xylitol is a low-calorie sugar substitute used to improve the taste of products that don’t contain sugar. You can find it in gum and candy, peanut butter, and sugar-free baked goods. According to the Pet Poison Helpline, calls about xylitol pet poisonings increased by 108% between 2015 and 2020. In 2020, the number of calls to the helpline concerning xylitol poisoning was second only to chocolate poisoning calls. Gum used to come from tree resin. These days, though, chewing gum is made of a substance called gum base, which is largely synthetic — not made from any real food ingredients. Gum base is non-nutritive, which means it doesn’t provide any nutritional value, and is nondigestible, which means your body can’t break it down like it does other foods. At this time, there is no antidote for xylitol toxicity. Your veterinarian will usually monitor your dog for at least 12 hours for blood sugar levels and liver function, and if the dog’s blood sugar remains too low, they may require treatment for 1 to 2 two days with an IV glucose solution. Prevention

Gum? (for Kids) - Nemours KidsHealth What Happens to Swallowed Gum? (for Kids) - Nemours KidsHealth

Swallowing one piece of gum probably won’t hurt you, but beyond that, be careful. Czerwony says swallowing a lot of gum in a short period of time — say, one piece a day for a week, or a mega-wad consisting of four pieces of gum at a time — can put your digestive systemin danger. You may be surprised to find out that other products that sometimes contain xylitol include chewable vitamins, dental products, nasal sprays, sunscreen, deodorant, makeup and hair products, some human medications, and even baby wipes. Xylitol is often included in personal-care products because it produces a cooling sensation and helps maintain moisture. The Dangers of Xylitol Most dog owners are aware of how dangerous chocolate can be for dogs. But you may not know that sugar-free gum, which contains xylitol, is just as dangerous. What Is Xylitol? Almost everyone has swallowed a piece of gum, but few kids have ever needed a doctor because of it. You might have heard that swallowed gum stays in your stomach for 7 years. That's not true. If you suspect that your dog may have consumed sugar-free gum or any other product containing xylitol, immediately call your vet or the Pet Poison Helpline (800-213-6680).The toxic dose of xylitol depends on the weight of your dog and how much xylitol they have ingested. For example, a small dog that eats a whole piece of chewing gum may be fighting for their life and a larger dog may show no signs at all. Different brands of chewing gum also contain different amounts of xylitol.