Mixing bright yellow spices with coconut oil may not seem like the ideal solution to whitening dull or stained teeth, but some beauty and health influencers have given it a try. I believe it.
when newsweek We asked dentists about teeth-whitening hacks, and experts agree on whether turmeric, traditionally used as a food spice and to dye clothes, stains teeth yellow or helps whiten them. was divided.
in September Instagram videos “This is the best at-home teeth whitening paste,” Julie Beyers said of the yellow mixture, following over 1,000 comments from Hormone Hype Sisters (@balancebeyars).
She advised a ratio of 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder to 1/4 cup of coconut oil and said, “It really makes your teeth super white!” She added that she used this hack twice a week before weddings and events.
Last year, Evette from the TikTok channel @itsevette said much the same thing: This video currently has 440,600 likes— However, she recommended mixing two tablespoons of turmeric with half a cup of coconut oil.
“As you can see, my teeth are pearly white and all I use is coconut oil and a little turmeric powder,” Evette said in the video, adding that the paste is “magic for your teeth. It is called “gold of gold”.
“It’s funny because turmeric stains everything, but if you add turmeric and coconut oil together, it won’t stain your teeth. It’s actually counterproductive to your teeth,” she says.
In another TikTok videoThis time from July, user @babzy531 said the hack meant he hasn’t had to go to the dentist since 2015, even though he smokes and drinks tea and coffee.
she said: “Trust me, it works,” and “This will save you guys thousands or hundreds of dollars.”
In addition to brushing your teeth with turmeric and coconut oil, she also recommended passing a scoop of coconut oil around your mouth like mouthwash.
All three content creators warned that the hack could stain toothbrushes yellow and clog pipes if you spit in the sink, and recommended spitting in the trash.
Dentist talks about the trend of teeth whitening with turmeric
Most of the dentists we spoke to newsweek They were either skeptical of this trend or advised against it.
said Dr. Nina Khedkar, owner of Charles River Orthodontics in Massachusetts. newsweek: “A mixture of turmeric and coconut oil is not considered an effective teeth whitening strategy, and despite claims about its whitening properties, turmeric’s bright pigment actually causes teeth whitening. It can turn yellow. I do not recommend doing this at all.
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Dr. Fatima Khan, Co-Founder of Riven Oral Care Dental Products, echoed similar sentiments and said, “It has become very trendy these days to brush your teeth with turmeric and then use regular toothpaste.
“The problem is that turmeric is a very dark yellow color, so it’s difficult to remove it completely.
“I’ve seen some of my patients get stains on their teeth because they didn’t rinse their mouths or brush enough after using turmeric. I’ve also seen turmeric stay on the teeth for too long. and can actually make your teeth yellower, not less. ”
Khan also said there is “limited scientific evidence” to support the effectiveness of spraying oil around the mouth.
Dr Stephen Barefoot, clinical leader at dental insurance company DentaQuest, said: newsweek: “There is no reliable evidence that this combination whitens teeth, and we do not believe it has the potential to stain enamel.”
He was of the opinion that while hacking is not harmful, it “does nothing for oral health.”
But Dr. Jessica Tasios, an oral dentist in Birmingham, England, disagreed. she said newsweek That the hack was successful.
“It’s safe and it also helps reduce gum inflammation,” Tasios says. “Turmeric also has antibacterial properties, making it one of the better home remedies for oral health.”
Tasios clarified that there is “no scientific evidence that this combination whitens teeth,” but said there is “plenty of anecdotal evidence” that it does work.
As such, Tasios said that while he cannot formally recommend this as an option, he believes the hack does no harm and there is “no inherent risk” to it.
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