Teeth whitening with turmeric: Dentists disagree about viral hack

Mixing a bright yellow spice with coconut oil might not seem like the ideal solution for whitening dull or discolored teeth, but some beauty and wellness influencers swear by it.

When Newsweek After I contacted dentists about the teeth whitening hack, experts were divided on whether turmeric — traditionally used to flavor foods and dye clothes — would turn teeth yellow or help whiten them.

In a September Instagram video with more than 1,000 comments from the Hormone Hype Sisters (@balancedbeyars), Julie Beyars said of the yellow mixture: “This is the best at-home teeth whitening paste.”

She recommended a ratio of a teaspoon of turmeric powder to a quarter cup of coconut oil and said, “It really whitens my teeth a lot!” She added that she used the hack twice a week before weddings or events.

Last year, Evette of TikTok channel @itsevette said much the same thing in a video that now has 440,600 likes — except she recommended combining two tablespoons of turmeric with half a cup of coconut oil.

“As you can see, my teeth are pearly white and I only use coconut oil and some turmeric powder,” Evette said in the video, calling the paste: “Magic gold for your teeth.”

“It's crazy because turmeric stains everything, but when you add turmeric and coconut oil together, it doesn't leave any staining – it actually does the opposite on your teeth,” she said.

In another TikTok video, this time from July, user @babzy531 said the hack had prevented her from going to the dentist since 2015, even though she was a smoker and drank tea and coffee.

She said, “Trust me, it works,” and “This will save you thousands, hundreds of dollars.”

She recommended not only brushing your teeth with turmeric and coconut oil, but also dripping a scoop of coconut oil onto your mouth like a mouthwash afterwards.

All three content creators warned that the hack would turn toothbrushes yellow and clog pipes if spit into the sink, so they recommended spitting into the trash can.

Dentists on the tooth whitening trend with turmeric

Most dentists spoken to Newsweek were either skeptical about the trend or advised against it.

Dr. Nina Khedkar, owner of Charles River Orthodontics in Massachusetts, shared Newsweek: “A mixture of turmeric and coconut oil is not considered an effective teeth whitening strategy and may actually turn your teeth yellow due to turmeric's bright pigment, despite some claims about its whitening properties. I would not recommend this at all.”

Dr. Fatima Khan, co-founder of Riven Oral Care dental products, shared a similar sentiment, saying, “It's been quite a trend lately to brush your teeth with turmeric and then use regular toothpaste.”

“Here's the thing: turmeric is quite a dark yellow color and it can be difficult to completely wipe off.

“I've seen it cause discoloration on the teeth of some of my patients because they didn't rinse and brush their mouths thoroughly enough after using it – and if turmeric is left on the teeth for too long, it can actually cause that “that they look even more yellow.”, not less.”

And about the practice of swishing oil in the mouth, Khan said there is “limited scientific evidence” to support its effectiveness.

Dr. Steven Barefoot, clinical director at dental insurance company DentaQuest, said Newsweek: “There is no credible evidence that the combination would whiten teeth, and I doubt it would stain tooth enamel.”

In his opinion, the hack was not harmful, but would also have “no benefit to oral health.”

But Dr. Jessica Tasios of Oral Dental in Birmingham, England, disagreed. She told Newsweek that the hack worked.

“It's safe and can even help reduce gum inflammation,” Tasios said. “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 “a lot of anecdotal evidence” that it is effective.

Although she couldn't officially recommend it as an option, Tasios said the hack caused no damage and she saw “no inherent risk” in it.

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