If you’re the type of person to forego a professional dental whitening service in lieu of a teeth whitening DIY method, you may be surprised to hear that one of the most popular DIY methods — chewing whitening gum — simply doesn’t cut it.
“Chewing one piece for 12 minutes five times a day helped reduce staining in a 12 week clinical trial,” reads the label on one of the most popular brands of whitening gum, Orbit White.
“Take a look at that label — you’d need to spend a full hour of every day chewing this gum, just to notice a difference after three months,” writes Beth Skwarecki on Lifehacker.
For those who are doing the math, that’s a full 84 hours of chewing 420 pieces of gum within a three-month period. Not to mention, the results are entirely unclear.
“Orbit doesn’t link to the study…so we don’t even know how much of a difference those 84 hours of gum-chewing made. Did people’s teeth go from yellow to ever-so-slightly less yellow? Or was it the kind of change you can easily see in the mirror? Looks like you’ll have to chew 420 pieces of gum to find out,” writes Skwarecki.
If whitening gum doesn’t work, what does?
If you’re saddened by this realization and feel as though all of your whitening gum-chewing has been for naught, don’t give up just yet — there are plenty of other viable teeth whitening alternatives. In fact, professional alternatives are the most common and effective solutions available on the market. Dentists have access to high-grade technologies that use pain-free mechanisms and bleaching gel to help you achieve the bright smile you’ve always dreamed of.
While white strips and other DIY methods are often ineffective, they can also come with unpleasant side effects, such as extreme tooth sensitivity. But the best teeth whitening methods have incorporated the use of desensitizers such as fluoride and potassium nitrate to ensure that your teeth won’t feel the least bit sensitive or uncomfortable after the procedure is over.
Remember, those who frequently indulge in cigarettes, coffee, red wine, acidic beverages such as soda, or dark-colored fruits and veggies are exceptionally prone to developing stains and yellowing. According to an AACD survey, virtually all adults (99.7%) surveyed believe a healthy smile is socially important, and if you’re concerned by the look of your teeth, don’t hesitate to visit your dentist to hear about the best teeth whitening method for you.
