The Truth About Teeth Whitening Gums
Teeth whitening gums are everywhere these days—grocery store lines, magazine ads, television spots, etc. Consider the Orbit teeth whitening commercials with the white-clad woman at the end who smiles and says “Fabulous! New Orbit gum cleans another dirty mouth!” But do teeth whitening gums really work?
The answer is: only to a limited extent. Teeth whitening gums will whiten your teeth but can’t replace a toothbrush and toothpaste. In 2007, Good Housekeeping actually performed a test with teeth whitening gums in which they had individuals chew one of six gums four times a day for six weeks. After that six week period, the best of the gums had only lightened teeth up to one shade. By comparison, whitening strips and trays lightened teeth up the three shades after two weeks of use, twice per day. The best whitening solutions, the study found, were in-office teeth whitening treatments and Crest Night Effects which could each lighten teeth five shades.
If you’re going to chew gum anyways, however, teeth whitening brands can’t hurt. Teeth whitening gums can be helpful in two ways. First, they do contain ingredients which fight against stains and remineralize tooth enamel. Second, like all gums, teeth whitening gums induce salivation. Your natural saliva contains amounts of calcium and phosphate which remineralize teeth and keep stains from ever occurring.
The best way to fight tooth discoloration, however, is prevention. Drinks such as coffee, red wine and sugary sodas are known to cause tooth discoloration. Instead of drinking three cups of coffee per day, consider substituting one or two with hot tea. Additionally, daily dental care will go a long ways towards keeping teeth white. When plaque builds up on or between teeth, it weakens the enamel and exposes the tooth surface to discoloring agents. Brushing two times per day and flossing at least once prevents plaque from cementing onto teeth.
Lastly, the dentist is your best friend when it comes to teeth whitening. Bi-annual dental appointments keep teeth fresh and plaque-free. Dental hygienists clean teeth thoroughly and can identify potential problems long before they occur. Remember, the better dental hygiene you keep throughout your life, the brighter yours smile will be for years to come.
If you’re due for a dental appointment, contact Culebra North Dental Care today.
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