Orbit White gum whitens teeth primarily through a physical process of stain removal, not through chemical bleaching. The key to its action lies in its increased abrasiveness, which helps to scrub away surface stains. Here's a detailed breakdown:
The Abrasive Mechanism of Orbit White
The fundamental way Orbit White works is through enhanced abrasion. This means the gum is designed to be slightly more abrasive than regular chewing gum, enabling it to gently remove surface stains from your teeth as you chew.
- Increased Abrasiveness: Orbit White gum is formulated to have a mild abrasive quality. This abrasive action helps to physically scrub off surface stains that can accumulate on your teeth from food and drinks.
- Surface Stain Removal: The gum's abrasive nature targets the outer layers of your teeth, where stains often reside. It doesn't penetrate the enamel to alter the color of the tooth itself, as bleaching agents would.
- No Bleaching Action: It’s important to note that Orbit White gum does not contain chemicals that would bleach your teeth. Its whitening action is purely mechanical, from the abrasive process.
Role of Sodium Bicarbonate
According to the provided reference, Orbit White gum utilizes sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to increase the gum’s abrasiveness. Baking soda is a very mild abrasive and contributes to the physical removal of stains.
How Sodium Bicarbonate Works:
- Mild Abrasive: Baking soda is a gentle abrasive ingredient that helps in the removal of stains by increasing the overall abrasiveness of the gum.
- Surface Cleaning: The fine particles of baking soda gently polish the tooth surface while you chew, contributing to a cleaner appearance.
- Complementary Action: The baking soda works in combination with the overall texture and abrasiveness of the gum to enhance its stain removal capabilities.
Summary of Whitening Process
Here is a concise overview of how Orbit White gum whitens teeth:
| Feature | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Primary Action | Mechanical stain removal through increased abrasiveness. |
| Key Ingredient | Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) acts as a mild abrasive. |
| Mechanism | Physical scrubbing of surface stains as you chew the gum. |
| Whitening Type | Surface stain removal, not a bleaching effect. |
Limitations
It's important to recognize that Orbit White gum is designed to remove surface stains, such as those caused by coffee, tea, or smoking. This type of gum cannot change the actual color of your teeth like professional whitening procedures. It's a method for surface-level improvement, not a deep-whitening treatment.
