Swallowed gum
Various myths hold that swallowed gum will remain in a human's stomach for up to 7 years, as it is not digestible. According to several medical opinions, there seems to be little truth behind the tale. In most cases, swallowed gum will pass through the system as quickly as any other food.[30]
There have been cases where swallowing gum has resulted in complications requiring medical attention. A 1998 paper describes a four-year-old boy being referred with a two-year history of constipation. The boy was found to have "always swallowed his gum after chewing five to seven pieces each day", being given the gum as a reward for good behavior, and the build-up resulted in a solid mass which could not leave the body.[31] A 1½-year-old girl required medical attention when she swallowed her gum and four coins, which got stuck together in her esophagus.[30][31] A bezoar is formed in the stomach when food or other foreign objects stick to gum and build up, causing intestinal blockage.[32] As long as the mass of gum is small enough to pass out of the stomach, it will likely pass out of the body easily,[30] but it is recommended that gum not be swallowed or given to young children who do not understand not to.[31]