What Happens When We Swallow Gum?
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Dr Leon Klempner and Dr David Amram and the Coolsmiles Team want to dispel an urban legend about chewing gum: if you swallow a wad of gum, it does not sit in your stomach for seven years. In most cases, actually, not even seven days. Chewing gum, although not meant to be swallowed, passes harmlessly through the digestive system and is excreted in the same manner as everything else we eat.
There is some truth to the myth, however: chewing gum is not digested. It contains resins, sometimes natural and sometimes synthetic, which our bodies cannot break down. Gum is simply passed along our digestive tract.
In rare cases, excessive amounts of swallowed gum can lead to constipation and intestinal blockage in young children. But parents need not be alarmed. Young children are not more susceptible to complications involving swallowed gum; young children are simply the only people who might swallow enough gum to cause digestive problems. Kids often forget or may not understand that gum is for chewing and not swallowing.
Leon and David are reviewing x-rays together in the lab. They ran across something very peculiar in this one x-ray. Obviously they were both surprised. What do you think Leon is saying to David?
The rules of the contest are simple to follow…
- Come up with a creative caption for what Leon is saying in the photo to David
- Add your caption in the comment box
- Include your first and last name so we can notify you if you are the winner.
- The winner will be decided by the Coolsmiles team on March 31st.
- The winner receives a $50 gift card.
- The contest is open to all current and past patients in the practice
- Please, only one submission will be accepted per person.
Good luck to all you creative caption geniuses!! Who knows what we found in the x-ray! It could be anything…
When is the best age to let your child have a cellphone?
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Rapidly advancing technology has been a topic of a previous blog and we have had many comments. It seems that there are conflicting opinions as to whether it's always such a good thing. Texting and instant messaging have, at times, replaced eye to eye contact and communication. Try putting on braces while the patient is texting! Health issues about radiation and cell phone use appear periodically in the media. As parents we sometimes feel pressured to provide new "toys" as they become available. On the other hand, it's important to be able to contact our children and know where they are. We want to know what you think? What age is the best age and why?
