Want a brighter smile? You may have run across articles on the internet claiming that a lot of different at-home whitening methods can improve your smile, from banana peels to oil pulling.
But is this really true? In this blog from Coronado Dental Associates, we’ll discuss a few of the most common DIY whitening methods, and discuss which ones do and don’t work.
1. Banana Peels
Banana peels don’t do anything to whiten your teeth. Many articles recommend rubbing the peel against your teeth for a few minutes. While this could scrub off some surface stains, it’s no more effective than brushing your teeth. Banana peels have no special whitening properties.
2. Oil Pulling
Oil pulling (swishing oil around your mouth) could help kill certain bacteria. But it has no known special abilities to whiten your teeth. It won’t hurt your smile, but it won’t brighten your teeth significantly either.
3. Strawberries, Pineapples, Apples & Other Fruits
Some people think the “malic acid” in certain fruits like strawberries, pineapples, and apples can whiten your teeth. However, a study showed that there were no significant effects, especially compared to commercial whitening products.
However, eating fibrous fruits like apples or pears is still good for your oral health. The fibers act as natural “brushes,” and help keep your teeth clean and healthy. Of course, fruit is also great for your overall health, so munch away! Just don’t expect it to give you a brighter smile.
4. Baking Soda
Baking soda is a mild abrasive, and can scrub away surface stains and plaque away from your teeth. That’s why it’s a common additive in toothpaste. You could use baking soda on its own, but we recommend just brushing your teeth with an ADA-approved toothpaste instead.
5. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is actually used in most teeth whitening products, along with carbamide peroxide. However, swishing and rinsing with it is not as effective as using a commercial teeth whitening product, since commercially-available hydrogen peroxide is very diluted.
6. Apple Cider Vinegar
There is no evidence that apple cider vinegar can whiten your teeth. Not only that, but it’s really acidic and can wear down your enamel with prolonged use, causing permanent damage. Don’t try to use apple cider vinegar to whiten your teeth.
7. Turmeric
Again, there is no scientific research on the effectiveness of turmeric for teeth whitening. It’s been found to help fight against oral bacteria, but it will not whiten your teeth.
8. Charcoal And Charcoal Toothpaste
Similarly to baking soda, charcoal is an abrasive substance. It can remove mild surface stains caused by plaque. But it’s often very harsh, and prolonged use of charcoal or charcoal toothpaste could damage your enamel. We recommend skipping this, and using an ADA-accepted whitening toothpaste instead.
Nothing Works Better Than Professional Teeth Whitening!
We recommend avoiding these DIY teeth whitening methods. If you want to brighten your smile, consider an over-the-counter whitening kit approved by the ADA like Crest Whitestrips, or contact Coronado Dental Associates for professional teeth whitening!
Dr. Villalobos and Dr. Meadows provide effective, long-lasting teeth whitening services in Coronado, Imperial Beach, and downtown San Diego. With our help, you’ll get the beautiful smile you deserve. Contact us online or give us a call at (619) 435-0844 to schedule an appointment now.
FAQs
Banana peels don't do anything to whiten your teeth.
Is banana peel teeth whitening a hoax? ›
But does this trick actually work? Unfortunately, there's no evidence to suggest that banana peels really do whiten teeth. While the minerals in bananas promote dental health, they're unlikely to brighten your smile. There are two main ways to whiten teeth: abrasion and bleaching.
Does banana white teeth whitening work? ›
Whitening — nope. Their high acid content can hurt your teeth and not help them. Our apologies to banana believers everywhere.
What method do dentists use to whiten teeth? ›
Most teeth whitening dentists use hydrogen peroxide to achieve this goal. Dentists use concentrated hydrogen peroxide gels with heat and light to brighten your teeth in approximately an hour.
What is the best DIY teeth whitening? ›
Hydrogen peroxide is a mild bleach that can help to whiten stained teeth . For optimal whitening, a person can try brushing with a mix of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide for 1–2 minutes twice a day for a week. They should only do this occasionally.
Is there anything that really whitens teeth? ›
Brush with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide paste:
Baking soda has teeth whitening properties; that's why it's prevalent in toothpaste commercials. It helps in rubbing off stains from the tooth surface due to its mildly abrasive nature. Hydrogen peroxide, on the other hand, is a natural bleaching agent.
Does banana peel really work? ›
No real scientific evidence – There are no scientific studies proving banana peels can reduce wrinkles. The only evidence is anecdotal claims from TikTok users. Bananas may have some skin benefits – Bananas do contain beneficial antioxidants like vitamin C, B vitamins, magnesium, and potassium.
What whitens teeth the fastest? ›
To whiten teeth in one day, an in-office whitening treatment might be the best bet. Just beware of the sensitivity side effects. Harris adds that in-office, same-day systems like Zoom Advanced Power is highly effective for immediate results when dealing with stains caused by internal discoloration.
How do I use banana peel to whiten my teeth? ›
Banana Peel Teeth Whitening: Will it Give You a Brighter Smile?
- Rub the underside of the banana peel all over your teeth.
- Once your teeth have been thoroughly rubbed, let the banana matter sit on your teeth for ten minutes. ...
- Use a dry toothbrush to work the banana into your teeth.
Do You Want To Whiten Your Teeth, Fast?
- Use whitening toothpaste. ...
- Switch to an electric toothbrush. ...
- Get a professional tooth whitening treatment. ...
- Get a custom whitening gel tray. ...
- Apply whitening strips. ...
- Use baking soda toothpaste. ...
- Try oil pulling. ...
- Practice good oral hygiene.
Option #1: In-Office Laser Whitening
This is one of the popular teeth whitening methods that some people believe is the most effective way to get a brighter smile. Using lasers and peroxide-based whitening agents in a professional setting, this teeth whitening method provides dramatic, lasting results.
What is the cheapest way to whiten your teeth? ›
Over-the-counter options, like whitening toothpastes, strips, and kits, tend to be the cheapest options. If you feel self-conscious about the brightness of your smile, you are far from alone.
What do professionals use to whiten teeth? ›
Carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide are commonly used in whitening interventions and can readily permeate dental hard tissues. Temporary tooth sensitivity and gingival inflammation are the most common adverse effects of vital tooth whitening.
Is it better to whiten your teeth at the dentist or DIY? ›
The main benefit of professional teeth whitening is that the whitening occurs much faster than the multiple kits often required to achieve and maintain whitening from at-home solutions. With at-home kits, you may also see inconsistent results depending on your teeth and oral health.
What ingredient whitens teeth the most? ›
Hydrogen peroxide is the active whitening component. In fact, hydrogen peroxide is the most common teeth whitening ingredient in whitening procedures at dentists' offices around the globe. An especially strong teeth whitening formula will have quite the potent hydrogen peroxide that provides quick results.
What is the number one over the counter teeth whitening? ›
“Over the counter, I recommend Crest 3D White Whitestrips,” Dr. Hadaegh says. “A lot of my patients who naturally have whiter teeth or slightly discolored teeth are happy with the results.”
Do bananas help whiten your teeth? ›
Banana peels don't do anything to whiten your teeth. Many articles recommend rubbing the peel against your teeth for a few minutes. While this could scrub off some surface stains, it's no more effective than brushing your teeth. Banana peels have no special whitening properties.
What does banana peel and toothpaste do? ›
It's true that rubbing a banana peel against your teeth may remove some plaque and surface stains, but a toothbrush does a much better job — especially when coupled with a quality toothpaste. There's nothing in a banana peel that is intrinsically teeth-whitening.
Does banana peel remove tartar? ›
Now the validity of this trend is purely based on anecdotal evidence. You may have seen it posted, shared or blogged. But when it comes to removing stains from teeth, there isn't any proper scientific evidence that proves banana peels do the job.
What fruit peel whitens teeth? ›
Bananas are not only a delicious and nutritious fruit, but they also contain certain compounds that could potentially benefit your teeth. One such compound is potassium, which is found in abundance in banana peels. Potassium has been known to help remove surface stains from teeth, giving them a whiter appearance.
