Dear gum-chewing science friends-

There's a discussion of the biodegradability of chewing gum at : chewing gum

According to the folks at Wrigley more on chewing gum, gum will pass through your system in about 3 days. Except for the sugar and other flavorings, it doesn't digest, it just gets passed out in the feces.

How long it take for gum to biodegrade depends on where it is put.If you put it someplace that has moisture like in the ground, I would say less than a year. I you put it someplace really dry like stuck under your desk, it will be there probably long after you finish high school or whenever the janitor scrapes it off. You can digest gum, though so don't worry if you swallow it.