The effect of gum chewing on sensitivity associated with in-office whitening procedures.

OBJECTIVES: Tooth sensitivity is the most common side effect of in-office tooth-whitening procedures. The purpose of this study was to determine whether chewing gum containing 0.6% casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) before tooth whitening would reduce tooth sensitivity during an in-office whitening procedure. METHODS: Thirty participants were enrolled and randomized into three groups as follows: group 1 was instructed to not chew gum during the study period; group 2 chewed five pieces of gum (with 0.6% CPP-ACP) for 10 min each day 1 week before whitening; and group 3 chewed five pieces of gum (without CPP-ACP) for 10 min each day 1 week before whitening. All participants had their teeth whitened with a 30% hydrogen peroxide in-office whitening procedure. The participants' shades of teeth were evaluated with a spectrophotometer four times during the study: at the initial screening visit, immediately before whitening, immediately after whitening and 1 week after whitening. Participants' sensitivity levels were evaluated each time the shades were evaluated and additionally at 24 h after whitening using a 100-mm visual analogue scale. RESULTS: Thirty participants were enrolled in the study. The average shade change was -2.27 (+/- 2.07). The average sensitivity for all groups at visit 1 was 5.12 (+/- 13.94). The average sensitivity for all groups after whitening was 19.81 (+/- 13.95). There were significant differences in sensitivity between groups 2 and 3 (P = 0.02), but neither group was significantly different from the control group (P = 0.86, P = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Chewing gum before whitening, including gum with CPP-ACP, did not reduce sensitivity during in-office whitening procedures.