Goshawk
Graduate Poster
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2003
- Messages
- 1,451
I haven't heard about the gum yet, but I doubt whether it would be very effective. The dental bleaching systems that do work need to have the bleaching agent resting on your teeth for a certain time period in order to work (because it's actually a form of peroxide that's bleaching your teeth), but chewing gum gets mooshed around in your mouth with saliva, and doesn't sit right on your teeth.
I'd think that your saliva would dilute the bleaching agent, too.
I'd think that your saliva would dilute the bleaching agent, too.
EdipisReks
Custom Title
i think the point about the tooth whitening gum is that you chew it after a meal and it helps keep food particles from sticking to your teeth.
EdipisReks
Custom Title
yes, any gum will. teeth whitening gum is, however, more expensive, so the maker makes more money.
Checkmite
Skepticifimisticalationist
As far as I know, whitening gum doesn't have any bleaching agents in it; instead, it has baking soda, which is supposed to act as an abrasive and "scrub" your teeth white, rather than bleaching them. Of course, I don't know how effective it is.
michaellee
Muse
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2002
- Messages
- 633
The market growth of teeth whitening products puts Intel to shame. There are four methods currently popular, all claim to "whiten or bleach" teeth.
1. Laser whitening by a Dentist
2. Dental trays containing whitening agents, made either at home or by a dentist.
3. Transparent whitening strips like Crest's.
4. Whitening gum, the newest entry.
Bleaching and whitening are not the same, in a technical sense, just do not tell the Gum companies this.
Proper brushing, flossing, cleaning of teeth, gums and mouth is in itself a whitening process. Neglected teeth, simply over time and because of food, liquid, tobacco etc. stains gradually yellow or grey. So in reality, maintaining the whiteness of one's teeth is to the market, "Whitening".
The FDA currently allows one bleaching agent, in one of two forms, for use in bleaching teeth. This is the active ingredient hydrogen peroxide.
There are two used forms, each with different concentrations of the active ingredient. Carbamide peroxide (urea hydrogen peroxide), usually marketed as 18 or 22% bleaching gel contains a urea portion of the molecule which does no whitening. So based on molecular weight, a carbamide peroxide 20% and hydrogen peroxide 7.2% has equal whitening ability.
Laser Method-
Dentists apply a 35% hydrogen peroxide solution, then apply bright light to the teeth to expediate the process, which takes in its entirety about 1 hour.
Tray & Gel Method-
Both Dentist's and over-the-counter bleaching gels differ in peroxide quantities, but most contain the quantities mentioned before. The custom trays are usually worn 2-4 hours per day for a period between 2-6 months or until the desired results are attained.
Teeth Strip Method-
Similar to the tray method, but worn for 30 minutes at a time, on the upper teeth only, with the whitening agent "built in".
To genuinely bleach teeth, the hydrogen peroxide solution must contact the teeth, in a uniform fashion and constantly, in order to properly oxidize. A typical peroxide gel solution can oxidize for at least 4 hours before losing its zip. Results differ based on proper use, color of teeth before starting, etc.
Whitening Gum & Whitening Toothpaste
These products DO NOT bleach the teeth whatsoever for one reason- they do not contain hydrogen peroxide. They can, however, "whiten" the teeth as described above.
Why don't they contain hydrogen peroxide? Simple. The human body has built in defenses to prevent ingestion of toxic levels of peroxides- This is what is known as saliva. One compound found in saliva effectively counteracts about 30mg of peroxide in one minute. A single teeth bleaching treatment uses about 4mg of Carbamide Peroxide.
Instead, the pastes and gums add some other inert ingredient, triple the price, claim their product "whitens" teeth, and the gullible public can thank the FDA for not defining the difference between a true bleaching agent for teeth, and a preventive cleaner or antiseptic everyone's been using their entire life.
1. Laser whitening by a Dentist
2. Dental trays containing whitening agents, made either at home or by a dentist.
3. Transparent whitening strips like Crest's.
4. Whitening gum, the newest entry.
Bleaching and whitening are not the same, in a technical sense, just do not tell the Gum companies this.
Proper brushing, flossing, cleaning of teeth, gums and mouth is in itself a whitening process. Neglected teeth, simply over time and because of food, liquid, tobacco etc. stains gradually yellow or grey. So in reality, maintaining the whiteness of one's teeth is to the market, "Whitening".
The FDA currently allows one bleaching agent, in one of two forms, for use in bleaching teeth. This is the active ingredient hydrogen peroxide.
There are two used forms, each with different concentrations of the active ingredient. Carbamide peroxide (urea hydrogen peroxide), usually marketed as 18 or 22% bleaching gel contains a urea portion of the molecule which does no whitening. So based on molecular weight, a carbamide peroxide 20% and hydrogen peroxide 7.2% has equal whitening ability.
Laser Method-
Dentists apply a 35% hydrogen peroxide solution, then apply bright light to the teeth to expediate the process, which takes in its entirety about 1 hour.
Tray & Gel Method-
Both Dentist's and over-the-counter bleaching gels differ in peroxide quantities, but most contain the quantities mentioned before. The custom trays are usually worn 2-4 hours per day for a period between 2-6 months or until the desired results are attained.
Teeth Strip Method-
Similar to the tray method, but worn for 30 minutes at a time, on the upper teeth only, with the whitening agent "built in".
To genuinely bleach teeth, the hydrogen peroxide solution must contact the teeth, in a uniform fashion and constantly, in order to properly oxidize. A typical peroxide gel solution can oxidize for at least 4 hours before losing its zip. Results differ based on proper use, color of teeth before starting, etc.
Whitening Gum & Whitening Toothpaste
These products DO NOT bleach the teeth whatsoever for one reason- they do not contain hydrogen peroxide. They can, however, "whiten" the teeth as described above.
Why don't they contain hydrogen peroxide? Simple. The human body has built in defenses to prevent ingestion of toxic levels of peroxides- This is what is known as saliva. One compound found in saliva effectively counteracts about 30mg of peroxide in one minute. A single teeth bleaching treatment uses about 4mg of Carbamide Peroxide.
Instead, the pastes and gums add some other inert ingredient, triple the price, claim their product "whitens" teeth, and the gullible public can thank the FDA for not defining the difference between a true bleaching agent for teeth, and a preventive cleaner or antiseptic everyone's been using their entire life.
Goshawk
Graduate Poster
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2003
- Messages
- 1,451
Depends on how you define "toxic", I suppose. If you have to have the doc poke a tube down yer nose into yer stomach to relieve the pressure of gas, does that count as "toxic"? 
http://www.microlab.ucla.edu/MSDS/HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, 30% (VARIOUS%20GRADES)%20--%20GENERAL%20CHEMICAL%20--%2008-01-1998.htm
http://msds.fmc.com/msds/38728dpf.htm
http://www.microlab.ucla.edu/MSDS/HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, 30% (VARIOUS%20GRADES)%20--%20GENERAL%20CHEMICAL%20--%2008-01-1998.htm
http://msds.fmc.com/msds/38728dpf.htm
Fun stuff. I think we're in "do not try this at home" territory here...
michaellee
Muse
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2002
- Messages
- 633
Toxic or not, I'll provide the transportation for Goshawk and myself to your home, just to see you try. Heck, I'd like to see you try holding any liquid in your mouth, covering all teeth, for 30 minutes straight. That would be almost paranormal.....
But really, the tray thing seems to be a better choice....
Other then what is done at a dentists office, all those methods are quackery. The 'whitening' gum does only one thing; scrubs food particles off your teeth just like ANY other gum, while creating more saliva, with cleans your teeth.
The toothpaste? Same thing. if you brushed every day in the 1st place, you'd have white teeth, and the only reason that those work better is most people don't brush at all, or very seldom, but tell the public it'll directly whiten your teeth, and all of a sudden, they want to brush three times a day.
The laser method works, as does the molds. the molds suck to use, taste like crap, and require a lot of work. if you are really concerned, spend the bucks and do the laser treatment.
The toothpaste? Same thing. if you brushed every day in the 1st place, you'd have white teeth, and the only reason that those work better is most people don't brush at all, or very seldom, but tell the public it'll directly whiten your teeth, and all of a sudden, they want to brush three times a day.
The laser method works, as does the molds. the molds suck to use, taste like crap, and require a lot of work. if you are really concerned, spend the bucks and do the laser treatment.