Is Teeth-Whitening Gum a Gimmick?

A few weeks ago I saw a picture of myself and could only think one thing: Why are my teeth so yellow? And why didn't anyone tell me? And why haven't I done something about this sooner? OK, I became a bit obsessed. All of which led me to one solution: whitening gum.

Well, three things, if you count whitening strips and whitening toothpaste, too. But whitening gum, something I once considered a gimmick, is quickly becoming a staple that, used in conjunction with everything else, definitely helps. Here's why: In addition to stimulating saliva (which naturally remineralizes tooth enamel), regular gum dislodges food particles that can cause stains. And my whitening gum of choice, Supersmile Professional Whitening Gum, is sweetened with only Xylitol, a natural sugar substitute that (bonus!) fights cavities, so you can chew as much as you like. It's also made with baking soda (kills germs) and Calprox, a trademarked form of calcium peroxide that works to lift surface stains and keep professionally whitened teeth bright. So—smack, smack, smack—I'm a gum chewer again.