Chewing gum that whitens the teeth sounds a great idea. Imagine how good it would be if you could get bright white teeth, just by chewing gum?
This is the thinking behind a whole raft of chewing gum products that have recently been released on the market.
Many of the major chewing gum brands now produce whitening chewing gums and these are very good at helping with oral hygiene, Orbit White and Trident are just two examples. Toothpaste giants Colgate have also produced Advanced Action Gum, which contains low abrasive silica designed to rub away staining and zinc acetate which kills bacteria.
Orbit White product information recommends that you chew two pieces after consuming food or drinks to remove staining. This is especially important after drinking tea, coffee, coloured drinks like sodas or red wine. So does this work?
Chewing gum any good for your teeth?
First, the good news about chewing gum. It is excellent stuff for helping with dental health and hygiene as long as you choose a sugar free type.
Chewing gum encourages you to produce more saliva and this in turn helps clean the mouth and reduces plaque and decay. Some of the whitening gums also include mild abrasives that are designed to remove staining.
Whether or not you choose a whitening chewing gum, any sugar free gum will improve oral hygiene and has the added advantage of making your mouth taste fresh, and minty, keeping your breath pleasant smelling. It is not always convenient to clean your teeth, and sugar free gum can provide a handy alternative. In this Colgate Advanced Action, really scores and you know that using such a reputable teeth care brand will help promote oral health.
However, whitening chewing gum will not really make much difference to the overall colour of your teeth. Like teeth whitening toothpaste, the gum will help remove staining and it will keep your mouth fresh but there is nothing in any of the chewing gums to truly whiten.
If you want to lighten the colour of your teeth you will have to use a more effective method and either visit a cosmetic dentist or invest in a home whitening kit. The only way to change the colour of your teeth is by using teeth whitening gel containing a bleaching agent such as hydrogen peroxide or preferably carbamide peroxide.
Despite that, as a back up to whitening and as a teeth stain remover, whitening chewing gum is a great idea and will work to a certain extent.
