What actually happens
The joke is short. The answer deserves context.
Your body does not digest gum well, but it usually moves it along with everything else and sends it out. A huge amount can cause problems, but one swallowed piece is not setting up furniture in your stomach.
How the myth got legs
Every sticky belief has an origin story.
Parents needed kids to stop swallowing gum, so they invented digestive real estate law. It worked because seven years sounds specific enough to be scary.
Research directions
Where the evidence trail begins.
These labels describe the editorial research lanes behind this draft. They are not substitutes for linked primary citations or professional advice.
- 01Pediatric guidanceEditorial source category
- 02Digestive health referencesEditorial source category
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