Question
My daughter is two years old, and she accidentally swallowed gum while eating it. Hello, will this cause any harm to her body? I’m concerned about how to help her: I want to know if it’s harmful to her body?
Answer
Accidentally swallowing gum while chewing it does not pose any harm to a child’s body, as gum is non-adhesive in the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract due to the presence of moisture. Moreover, in the gastrointestinal tract, gum exists primarily in a fluid form. Therefore, there is no need to worry if a child swallows gum. Additionally, the gum base materials are high molecular weight polymers that cannot be digested by the human gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, it can be confirmed that even if a child accidentally swallows gum, it will not cause harm to the body; it will be excreted from the body along with feces. Wishing the child a healthy growth.