Introduction
There are many methods of teeth whitening that you can try nowadays. For whiter teeth, we try many home remedies or even professional treatments. One of the methods that is also adopted by a lot of people is chewing gum.
Yes, you have read it right, chewing gum for teeth whitening is considered to be an effective method which is extremely affordable and easy. Additionally, sugarless chewing gums have a history of removing stains from your teeth. If you are a regular coffee drinker or smoker, you can chew sugarless gums and prevent your teeth from getting severely stained.
How Does Chewing Gum Affect Oral Health?
Chewing gum has positive as well as negative effects on oral health. You should take into consideration when deciding to use chewing gum for whitening teeth:-
- Stimulate saliva production- Chewing gum can help stimulate your salivary glands increasing the production of saliva in the mouth, this helps in preventing you from having a dry mouth.
- Fight bad bacteria- Chewing sugar-free gums for whitening teeth will help you remove bad bacteria and prevent plaque building in your mouth.
- Disorders- Chewing gums aggressively on either side of the mouth can cause Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ).
- Causing of cavities and tooth decay- Studies have suggested that sugar is not good for our oral health. If you eat and drink sugary things excessively then it can cause cavities and tooth decay. Chewing sugary gums also produces acid in the mouth which can wear down the enamel.
Can Chewing Gum Whiten Teeth?
The short answer to the question is, yes. Whitening chewing gum is one of the easiest methods to get whiter teeth, however, you cannot chew teeth-whitening gum and get results from it instantly.
It is a slow and steady process, only after regular use can you see an evident difference. The time window for the ‘regular use’ is around three months or so. While the time window is long, choosing teeth-whitening gums is a good option since they not only whiten your teeth but also,
- Fight bad breath- Chewing teeth-whitening gums will help you fight bad breath because of their flavourful taste.
- Produces saliva- It will help produce enough saliva in your mouth.
- Prevent dry mouth- Due to increased saliva production, the chances of your mouth getting dried up are less.
- Prevent plaque buildup- These chewing gums also prevent the formation of bad bacteria and acid which can lead to plaque buildup.
- Prevent cavities and decay- Teeth whitening chewing gum also helps you fight cavities and tooth decay. This, however, will largely depend on the ingredients as well, like Perfora’s chewing gum has Xylitol which helps prevent cavities.
If you are consuming food that can stain your teeth then you can chew gum to combat tooth staining. The gum chewing process helps you produce saliva, which does not let the teeth staining particles linger on your teeth hence preventing any staining on your teeth.
Top Teeth Whitening Chewing Gums
There are many options available in the market but not all may be suitable for you. So, choosing the best chewing gums for teeth whitening will be subjective, which means there isn’t a concrete answer for it.
The best chewing gums for teeth whitening is extremely dependent on the products used in the making on the gum. It’s important to do your research and a trial-and-error analysis. Make sure it is toxin-free, plastic-free, 100% sugarless and without any artificial sweeteners added for the best experience so that the gum doesn’t end up hindering your oral health. It will help you combat bad breath and other oral issues and prevent tooth decay which in turn helps you maintain healthier and whiter teeth.
How to Use Whitening Chewing Gum Effectively
Chewing gum for whitening teeth helps you prevent not only tooth discolouration but also helps you combat other oral care issues, the fresh breath (and the jaw-line) is just an added benefit. To use a whitening chewing gum, consider the following tips-
- Read instructions- Read the instructions carefully before chewing gums for teeth whitening. Go through the do’s and don’ts, just in case there are special things to take into consideration.
- Duration- It has been recommended that you should not chew gum beyond 20 minutes per day. Excessive chewing can create more negative effects than positive ones. Follow the instructions and chew gum for 20 minutes per day.
- Brush before use- Always brush your teeth before chewing gum. It will help in removing the plaque and stains effectively.
- Consistency- Maintain a consistent flow for chewing gum every day and incorporate it into your daily routine.
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Consult your dentist- Always seek medical suggestions and recommendations before going ahead with any whitening product or methodology.
Pros and Cons of Using Chewing Gum for Whitening
Every teeth whitening treatment has negative and positive effects and so do teeth whitening gums. Chewing gums for teeth whitening is the easiest and most affordable method but it can not guarantee instant results. However, chewing gum aggressively can have many effects on your oral health.
The pros of chewing gum:-
- Whitening effect- Teeth whitening chewing gum gives a whitening effect and helps in removing stains.
- Combat bad breath- Teeth whitening chewing gum helps fight bad breath and gives a refreshing feeling.
- Prevent tooth decay- Gum has properties that prevent tooth decay by fighting the bad bacteria in your mouth. You can reduce tooth decay by chewing gum after brushing your teeth.
- Saliva production- Chewing gum increases your saliva flow and helps prevent dry mouth.
- Prevent plaque buildup- Chewing gum also prevents plaque buildup in your mouth.
The cons of chewing gum:-
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Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ)- This is a disorder which is caused when you chew excessively from either side of your mouth.
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Cavities- Chewing sugary-based gum can cause cavities because sugar releases acid in your mouth which can lead to cavities.
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Enamel erosion- You can face the issue of enamel erosion if you chew gums aggressively.
Conclusion
Sugarless chewing gums are good for oral health as they help with bad breath, cavities, tooth decay, saliva production, plaque buildup and most importantly whitening of teeth. However, it is best to consult your dentist before starting with any teeth whitening chewing gums.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is there a chewing gum that cleans your teeth?
Answer) One of the best chewing gum that cleans your teeth is the Perfora x Gud Gum (Plastic-free Chewing Gum). It is toxin-free, sugarless and no artificial sweeteners added. It will help you combat bad breath and other oral issues.
Q2. Can chewing gum whiten your teeth?
Answer) Chewing gum helps in removing stains. For better results, it is advisable to chew a piece of gum right after brushing.
Q3. Is chewing gum ok after teeth whitening?
Answer) Right after teeth whitening treatment, you should not chew gum for at least 3 days. Studies have suggested chewing gum helps in tooth sensitivity after teeth whitening treatment.
Q4. What is the best chewing gum for teeth whitening?
Answer) There are many chewing gum in the market. However, one of the best chewing gums is Perfora x Gud Gum (Plastic-free Chewing Gum). It is toxin-free, sugarless and no artificial sweeteners added.