✪ Key Highlight: New UCLA research reveals both synthetic and natural chewing gums release thousands of microplastic particles into saliva.
Introduction
You probably heard the old myth that swallowed chewing gum stays in your stomach for seven years.
Recent groundbreaking research from UCLA has uncovered a far more concerning reality about chewing gum that affects everyone who chews it regularly.
Hi, I’m Abdur, your nutrition coach and today I’m going to analyze this alarming new study about microplastic contamination in chewing gum and what it means for your health.
Does Chewing Gum Really Stay In Your Body For Seven Years?
The seven-year myth is completely false according to gastroenterology experts.
Dr. Nancy McGreal from Duke Health explains that your stomach empties within 30 to 120 minutes after eating, including gum.
Your body cannot digest the gum base because it lacks the necessary digestive enzymes to break it down.
However, the indigestible gum base moves through your intestines just like corn kernels or seeds and gets expelled naturally in your stool.
Dr. McGreal has performed countless upper endoscopies on both children and adults and has never found gum stuck in anyone’s stomach.
The only rare exception might occur in people with gastroparesis, a condition that causes food to build up in the stomach, but even then long-term gum retention is extremely unlikely.
✪ Fact: The seven-year myth likely started as a parental warning to prevent children from swallowing non-food items.
What Are The Hidden Health Effects Of Regular Gum Chewing?
Chewing gum creates both positive and negative effects on your body that most people never consider.
Studies show that gum chewing can improve your attention span, reaction time, and working memory in the short term.
However, constant chewing puts significant strain on your jaw muscles and temporomandibular joints.
This repetitive motion can lead to jaw soreness, persistent headaches, and even temporomandibular joint disorders that require medical treatment.
Your digestive system also suffers because you swallow excess air while chewing, which causes uncomfortable bloating and abdominal pain.
People with irritable bowel syndrome find that gum chewing triggers their symptoms and makes digestive discomfort worse.
Sugar-free gums contain artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sugar alcohols that many people cannot digest properly, leading to gas, cramping, and diarrhea.
✪ Pro Tip: Limit gum chewing to 15-20 minutes at a time to minimize jaw strain and digestive issues.
How Many Microplastics Does Chewing Gum Release Into Your Body?
The UCLA research presented at the American Chemical Society Spring 2025 meeting revealed shocking findings about microplastic contamination in chewing gum.
Researchers tested five brands each of synthetic and natural gums, with all pieces chewed by the same person to ensure consistent results.
Every single piece of gum released hundreds to thousands of microplastic particles directly into saliva during normal chewing.
The most surprising discovery was that natural gums made from plant-based polymers like chicle released just as many microplastics as conventional synthetic gums.
Scientists are still investigating why natural gums shed microplastics, but the contamination appears universal across all gum types.
The study estimates that daily gum chewers could be ingesting nearly 30,000 microplastic particles each year from this source alone.
This adds to the growing microplastic burden from food packaging, processing, and other environmental sources that are already entering our bodies.
✪ Note: Microplastics are particles smaller than 5 millimeters that can accumulate in human tissues and potentially cause inflammation.
Should You Stop Chewing Gum Completely?
The decision to continue chewing gum depends on weighing the cognitive benefits against the newly discovered health risks.
If you rely on gum for mental focus or stress relief, consider limiting your consumption to special occasions rather than daily use.
People who chew gum multiple times per day are exposing themselves to the highest levels of microplastic ingestion and jaw strain.
Children may be particularly vulnerable because their smaller body size means the same amount of microplastics creates a higher concentration in their developing tissues.
Alternative options for mental focus include deep breathing exercises, brief walks, or healthy snacks that provide similar cognitive benefits without microplastic exposure.
If you do choose to chew gum occasionally, never swallow it and dispose of it properly to avoid environmental contamination.
✪ Pro Tip: Try chewing on fresh mint leaves or fennel seeds for natural breath freshening without microplastic exposure.
The Bottom Line
While the seven-year digestion myth is false, the reality of microplastic contamination in chewing gum presents a genuine health concern that deserves serious consideration.
Your health is worth more than temporary convenience or habit, and making informed choices about daily exposures can protect your long-term wellbeing.
I would love to hear your thoughts about this research and whether it changes your perspective on chewing gum – please share your questions or experiences in the comments below.
References
At NutritionCrown, we use quality and credible sources to ensure our content is accurate and trustworthy. Below are the sources referenced in creating this article:
- Duke Health: Myth or Fact: It Takes Seven Years to Digest Chewing Gum
- American Chemical Society: Chewing Gum Can Shed Microplastics Into Saliva, Pilot Study Finds
- Food Safety Magazine: Study Shows Chewing Gum Releases Thousands of Microplastics
- PubMed Central: Chewing Gum and Cognitive Function Research
- Rejuv Health: Is Chewing Gum Bad for Your Health
