What happens if I swallow chewing gum?

According to historians, chewing gum has probably existed since the Neolithic period, over 5,000 years ago. Petrified tar from tree bark has been found with tooth imprints and it is theorized that prehistoric cavemen likely became equally frustrated after stepping in cousin Og's discarded gooey mess.

Modern versions of chewing gum have replaced woody tree goo with flavored polymers of rubber, which may not sound a whole lot more appealing to some.

While it is true that gum is pretty much indigestible, the stomach typically empties all contents within two to four hours. This includes bubble gum. Travel time through the small intestines is less than two hours, and the colon empties within 24 hours.

Swallowing of bubblegum is rarely dangerous and is extremely unlikely to cause a blockage. Nonetheless, gum should not be given to young children and it is generally not recommended to swallow things made from tree bark or synthetic polymeric hydrocarbons.