Whitening is one of the most requested things in oral care — and one of the most misunderstood. For decades, the default answer has been peroxide: a chemical oxidizer that bleaches the tooth from the inside out, and that can, with enough use, leave enamel more porous and teeth more sensitive. There's a growing body of research pointing toward a gentler, more intelligent alternative — one that comes not from a lab, but from two fruits you've almost certainly eaten this week. Here's what papain and bromelain are, why scientists are paying attention, and how they work inside The Polish.
What Are Papain and Bromelain?
Papain and bromelain are proteolytic enzymes — meaning they break down proteins. Papain is derived from the latex of green papaya fruit (Carica papaya), while bromelain is obtained from pineapple stalks (Ananas comosus). Both have been used extensively in the food and medical industries for decades.
Their mechanism is simple: rather than bleaching teeth, they target the protein structures that stains cling to in the first place. Due to their ability to degrade salivary proteins, these enzymes can be used successfully as active agents in tooth whitening without being accompanied by other side effects. In other words, they dissolve surface stains gently, without harming the tooth's structure.
The Science: How Each Enzyme Works
Papain
Think of your teeth like a window. Even after you clean it, a thin film settles back on the surface almost immediately. The same thing happens with your teeth — within minutes of brushing, a thin protein-rich film called the acquired pellicle forms on your enamel. This film is completely natural and actually serves a protective function, but it has one significant downside: it's the primary surface where stain molecules from coffee, tea, wine, and food latch on and accumulate. The darker your daily drink habits, the more opportunity that film has to hold onto color.
This is where papain comes in. Rather than bleaching stains, papain dissolves the protein layer those stains are anchored to. Research has confirmed that papain works in a concentration-dependent way — meaning the more effectively it's delivered, the more thoroughly it breaks down the stained proteins sitting on your enamel surface. No protein layer, no place for stains to hold on.
Beyond whitening, papain brings additional benefits. Papain has been proven to inhibit the formation of bacterial plaque and has anti-inflammatory properties that support the health of the gums.
Bromelain
Bromelain works alongside papain, but in a slightly different way. While papain goes after the film itself, bromelain targets the oxidized protein structures within existing stains — essentially breaking down the stain at a molecular level rather than just removing the surface it's sitting on. Together, they cover more ground than either enzyme could alone.
Bromelain also brings meaningful benefits beyond whitening. Studies have shown it has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, with research testing its efficacy against some of the most common bacteria behind tooth decay and gum disease — including Streptococcus mutans, the primary cavity-causing bacteria.
What the Clinical Research Shows
A clinical study tested the whitening effect of a dentifrice containing papain and bromelain on 35 patients who brushed twice daily for three weeks, with examination using a Vita shade guide showing significant improvement in tooth color after one, two, and three weeks. A separate review published in Dentistry Journal concluded that bromelain and papain could be considered efficient and safe therapeutic agents in dental problems including tooth whitening.
What to Look for in Products That Use These Enzymes
Enzyme-based oral care is still a developing category, which means quality and formulation vary considerably between products. Here's what to pay attention to:
Source and form. Look for products that specify the botanical origin of their enzymes (papaya for papain, pineapple for bromelain) rather than vague "enzyme complex" language. Transparency here is a good signal of overall formulation integrity.
No harsh abrasives alongside. Because enzymatic whitening works biochemically rather than mechanically, it doesn't need highly abrasive particles to be effective. Products pairing enzymes with very high-RDA abrasives may be undermining the very gentleness that makes enzymes worth using.
Supporting ingredients. The best enzyme-based formulas use complementary actives. Xylitol, for instance, works alongside enzymes to disrupt the bacterial biofilm that enzymes help loosen. Baking soda raises oral pH, creating an environment less hospitable to the acid-producing bacteria that cause staining and decay — and its mild abrasivity aids in gentle mechanical stain removal without enamel damage.
How Arame Uses These Enzymes
The Polish was formulated to whiten teeth gently, and quickly — only 2 minutes, three-times-per-week.
We use both papain and bromelain together; papain clears the protein pellicle that stains cling to, and bromelain targets the oxidized protein structures within those stains themselves. The result is a brightening mechanism that reveals a whiter, more radiant smile.
Alongside the enzymes, The Polish includes xylitol, shown to reduce the risk of cavities and bacterial acid attacks, and baking soda, to further remove surface stains and help increase the mouth's pH, making it less acidic and harder for bacteria to thrive and multiply, while also protecting enamel against demineralization.
