Question
What should I do if a child swallows gum?
Answer
Swallowing gum is not dangerous. Although gum contains a certain amount of gelatin, once it enters the stomach and comes into contact with stomach acid, it undergoes hydrolysis under the acid’s action, and is then completely denatured by digestive juices - enzymes. Ultimately, the gum is excreted from the body through the normal digestive route. Therefore, eating gum generally does not pose any danger.