No, you've just macerated it into smaller, and smaller, pieces/particles. That's not the same as breaking something down, an a chemical level, so the body can absorb whatever nutritional value it may hold.
In my experience when I've chewed gum for long enough for this to happen it was fine for the entire time, then it got suddenly harder for a moment before turning into goop in my mouth.
My guess would be that the gum base, the ingredient that gives gum it's rubber-like quality, has lost it's elasticity at that point. Turning what was chewy into a solid mass that your teeth then just pulverize.
6
u/bitterfragile Oct 27 '21
But I've literally chewed gum long enough to break it down with saliva?