Contents
Summary
Sugar-less gum is already being touted as an effective product to fight cavities because it stimulates saliva production. Saliva is one of the body’s natural bacteria fighters in the mouth. But now chewing gum manufacturers have started adding whitening agents to their products to help people whiten their teeth in the same time.
Description
It is accepted by the dental community that chewing sugar-less gum actually does help reduce staining pigments from adhering to the protein pellicle. Adding whitening agents or abrasives to the formula adds an extra teeth brightening component. Active whitening ingredients in several gum brands can include calcium peroxide, baking soda, citric acid, malic acid and silica. Some gums also contain zinc acetate as an anti-bacterial to prevent plaque buildup and bad breath-causing bacteria.
Results
It is reasonable to assume that chewing a few pieces isn’t going to have the same whitening effect as whitening gels, strips or dental office applications, but the whitening ingredients do make it easier for the chewing action to remove surface stains and, in some cases, prevent the development of stains. Depending on how stained your teeth are, whitening gum may improve the appearance of your teeth by one or two shades.
Pros and Cons
The advantage to chewing whitening gum is that whitening agents work only when they’re in contact with tooth enamel and people chew gum for a lot longer than they brush their teeth, so it stands to reason that some users will see a difference in their tooth color, even if it’s only in terms of decreased surface stains. Chewing gum, however, even with whitening agents won’t be able to address all stains, but surface stains only.
Tips and Guidelines for Use
- Role of some ingredients unknown. Role of some ingredients unknown. There have been concerns about some gums containing ingredients such as titanium dioxide which may be linked to cancer. There is also some debate over titanium dioxide’s true purpose in the gum, whether as a whitening agent or simply to create the hardened shell that some gum pieces have. It’s not just that these ingredients are coming into contact with your teeth, but they are also swallowed with the saliva.
A list of Gum Brands Containing Xylitol
Below you can find a list of most of the available xylitol gum brands.
Xyla: Xyla is 100% xylitol sweetened and it uses USA birch xylitol. Each piece contains 1 gram of xylitol which is more compared to most other brands. It is available in four flavors (fruit punch, spearmint, cinnamon and peppermint) and in bulk packages.
Spry from Xlear: Xlear produces and sells a large number of xylitol products including xylitol gums in various flavors such as peppermint, cinnamon, lemon, green tea and more. Spry chewing gums are sweetened with 100% xylitol and contain about 0.72 grams of xylitol per piece. The suggested retail price for a pack containing 100 pieces is $8.95 but you can find it discounted at places like Amazon.
Epic Xylitol Gum: Epic is offering 100% xylitol sweetened chewing gums at various flavors and packagings. They even offer a pack containing 1000 pieces of gum. Their gums contain 1.06 grams of xylitol per piece and their 50pieces bottle retails for $4.99.
B-Fresh: B-fresh gums are sweetened with 100% US produced xylitol and also contain Calcium and Vitamin B12. Each gum contains 0.85 grams of xylitol. A bottle containing 100 pieces retails for $12.95.
Miradent: 100% xylitol dental health chewing gum by Hager Pharma. Available in dispenser boxes and 30 pieces tubes.
Xylichew: Xylichew is another brand that only uses xylitol as a sweetening agent. They come in various flavors and currently a pack of 100 pieces costs $9.91 at Amazon.
Zellies Zellies are 100% xylitol gums and contain 1 gram per piece. A 100 pieces bottle of zellies currently costs $12.50.
Ricochet: Ricochet is produced by Emerald Forest. They offer 4 different flavors and the ricochet gums are sweetened 100% with xylitol. A 100 pieces pack currently retails for $7.99.
Theragum Theragum is produced by 3M and is another 100% xylitol chewing gum that contains about 0.70grams of xylitol per piece.
Trident: Not 100% xylitol
Teeth Whitening Gum Brands
- Epic Gum, 100% Xylitol Sweetened, Peppermint
- Elgydium Chewing Gum by Elgydium
- Trident White Sugar Free Gum, Peppermint
- Thrive Market Peppermint Xylitol Gum
- TheraBrite Whitening Gum box
- The Humble Co. Natural Chewing Gum
- Xyloburst, Xylitol Chewing Gum, Peppermint
- Supersmile Professional Whitening Gum
- Spry Sugar Free Xylitol Gum