# How Does 'Whitening' Gum Work?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-whitening-gum-work/130255>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 30, 2002, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-whitening-gum-work/130255 "2002-09-30T15:07:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-whitening-gum-work/130255/1 "2002-09-30T15:07:34Z")

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I’ve seen ads for gum that is supposed to whiten your teeth as you use it. I would imagine that this gum contains abrasives that polish the teeth as you chew it. But you chew mostly with your molars and wisdom teeth, not with the front surface of your teeth that is visible to other people. So how can this product actually work?

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-whitening-gum-work/130255/2 "2002-09-30T20:23:02Z")

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IME, the answer is, “It doesn’t.” Rendering the ‘how’ question irrelevant …

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**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-whitening-gum-work/130255/3 "2002-09-30T21:06:36Z")

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Most whiteners contain hydrogen peroxide, a mild bleaching agent.

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**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-whitening-gum-work/130255/4 "2002-09-30T21:42:04Z")

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I just found this-

[http://www.prodhelp.com/chewing\_gums\_and\_mints21.shtml](http://www.prodhelp.com/chewing_gums_and_mints21.shtml)

“\*Ingredients:  
Sorbitol, Gum Base, Maltitol, Mannitol, Artificial and Natural Flavoring; Less than 2% of: Acacia, Acesulfame Potassium, Aspartame, BHT (To Maintain Freshness), Calcium Casein Peptone-Calcium Phosphate (Lactose-Free Milk Derivative)\*\*, Candelilla Wax, Sodium Stearate and Titanium Dioxide (Color). \*”

Which of these is the supposed whitening agent?

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-whitening-gum-work/130255/5 "2002-09-30T23:08:23Z")

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I’d put my money on the phosphate. Go look at a tube of toothpaste and see if it uses a similar chemical. Toothpastes generally use sodium flouride, though.