Natural Teeth Whitening Remedies: Do They Really Work?

By Your Health Magazine

Your Health Magazine

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Natural Teeth Whitening Remedies: Do They Really Work?

Teeth discoloration is caused by a number of factors, such as genetics, smoking, age, and pigments from food and beverages.¹ Professional teeth whitening treatments can sometimes be costly, leading people to turn to natural remedies instead.² But are these remedies effective and safe? Here’s an overview of the most common remedies and what effect they’ve been proven to have.

Oil pulling

Oil pulling is a home remedy originating in India, which has been practiced for centuries as it is believed to prevent tooth decay, avoid bad breath, and improve oral health.³ It involves putting approximately one tablespoon of oil in your mouth, swishing it around like mouthwash for 15 to 20 minutes, and then spitting out the oil and brushing your teeth. Although the practice can be done with any edible oil, coconut oil is a popular choice due to its taste. 

Despite its popularity, there are no reliable studies that show oil pulling is effective at whitening teeth.⁴ Based on the lack of scientific evidence, dentists generally don’t recommend it as a valid treatment for teeth whitening.

Brushing with baking soda

Using baking soda when brushing teeth is another popular natural remedy for whitening teeth.⁵ As a mild abrasive, baking soda can scrub away stains on the teeth without harming or eroding your enamel. Despite its unappealing taste, many people even use baking soda as a daily alternative to brushing with toothpaste. To brush your teeth with baking soda, simply mix a small amount of baking soda with water, dip your toothbrush into the paste, and then brush your teeth as normal. Make sure to spit out the mixture at the end of the process and thoroughly rinse your mouth. 

There are studies that show that brushing with baking soda is effective at whitening the teeth, but it tends to have less of a whitening effect than commercial whitening toothpastes. Also, as it does not contain fluoride, it’s not effective at preventing cavities, and therefore, using it as a replacement for toothpaste is not recommended.

Using activated charcoal

Charcoal has been used for thousands of years for its healing properties.⁶ Although it became popularized in the past decade by the health and beauty industry, the Romans were the true originators of using charcoal in toothpaste. They combined it with bones, oyster shells, and bark. In modern times, you simply need to mix a small amount of activated charcoal with water, apply it to your teeth with your toothbrush, and then spit out the mixture and rinse your mouth. 

Compared to brushing your teeth with baking soda, charcoal is a more abrasive material. This means it can actually wear down the enamel on your teeth and expose the yellow dentin underneath.⁷ Therefore, even though your teeth might look whiter in the beginning, in the long run, using activated charcoal will damage your teeth, and your attempts to whiten your teeth could actually backfire.

Rinsing with hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a natural ingredient used in bleach, dyes, and disinfectants.⁸ It’s the active ingredient found in most teeth whitening products and is effective at removing stains.⁹ As a result, some people choose to rinse their teeth using hydrogen peroxide. To do this, mix equal amounts of hydrogen peroxide together with water, swish the mixture around your mouth for up to a minute, and then spit out the solution. 

It’s important to mix the ingredient with water as you need to dilute the solution. A high concentration or prolonged use of hydrogen peroxide may damage your teeth and cause tooth sensitivity.¹⁰ When used as an ingredient in toothpaste or in at-home teeth whitening kits, the amount of hydrogen peroxide is carefully formulated for your teeth.

The bottom line

Teeth whitening at home using natural remedies like brushing with baking soda or rinsing with hydrogen peroxide can sometimes deliver limited results, but they can pose serious risks to your oral health. The best approach is to speak with your dentist about what treatments they recommend. There are many commercial teeth whitening products available that have been proven to be safe and effective, and your dentist can provide guidance on teeth whitening costs and the method that may suit you best.