Claim: A post on the social media site Pinterest claims that Turmeric can be used for teeth whitening. The post claims that one can get whiter teeth using turmeric and that turmeric is one of the best remedies that is widely used to whiten teeth. It is used alone or in combination with some other natural ingredient to get rid of yellow teeth.
FACT CHECK: This claim is false.
Why Do Teeth Turn Yellow?
Teeth turn yellow due to external factors like food, drinks, smoking, and plaque buildup. Natural ageing also causes the enamel to thin, revealing the yellower dentin beneath. Plaque accumulation can also lead to discolouration, as it acts as a surface for staining substances to stick to.
Can Turmeric Help in Teeth Whitening?
The American Dental Association (ADA) has stated that no reliable scientific evidence exists to show that Turmeric whitens teeth. (1) A National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) study examined the whitening efficacy of popular natural products on dental enamel. It concluded that popular natural bleaching agents, including Turmeric, were ineffective in whitening teeth.
Turmeric was found to have low abrasiveness and did not significantly alter the enamel's surface roughness, colour, or whiteness when compared to conventional toothpaste, despite it being widely recommended for tooth whitening. (2) Research in the Saudi Dental Journal examined the effectiveness of natural products like turmeric for teeth whitening in an in vitro study. The findings revealed that turmeric as a homemade tooth-whitening remedy did not make a noticeable difference in the tooth colour. (3)
Expert Opinion:
Dr Santawana Payasi, a practising dentist with Sanjeevan Hospital, New Delhi, clarified this common misconception. She stated, "This is a myth. Turmeric causes stains. No medical research has proven that plaque can be removed using turmeric. When used for plaque removal, it will cause yellow stains on the teeth. Therefore, this claim is false. To remove plaque, I recommend people get scaling done by a dentist rather than following these myths.”
References:
1. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/natural-teeth-whitening/
2. Maciel, C. R. O., Amorim, A. A., Oliveira, R. F. L., Vivanco, R. G., & Pires-de-Souza, F. C. P. (2022). Whitening efficacy of popular natural products on dental enamel. Brazilian Dental Journal, 33(3), 55–66. https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-6440202204863
3. Abidia, R., El-Hejazi, A. A., Azam, A., Al-Qhatani, S., Al-Mugbel, K., & AlSulami, M. (2019). Efficacy of tooth whitening using natural products in vitro. Saudi Dental Journal. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sdentj.2019.01.020