Fact Check: Can Rubbing Banana Peel on teeth for 2 minutes every day help with teeth whitening?

The Pinterest post claims that rubbing banana peel for 2 minutes every day on teeth helps with teeth whitening. The claim is Mostly False.

Claim

A Pinterest user Health And Fitness | Health tips | Fitness Tips posted a claim that "Just by rubbing banana peel for 2 minutes every day on teeth helps in teeth whitening."

The post can be accessed here.

Fact Check

The claim is Mostly False. Banana peel does not produce significant teeth whitening and cannot address deeper stains. Focus on good oral hygiene and consult a dental professional for reliable whitening options.

What is Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening refers to any method used to brighten the colour of teeth. This can be accomplished by physically eliminating surface stains or by chemically lightening the tooth's shade. Plaque and stains from substances like wine, coffee, and tea are often removed using ultrasonic scalers or manual instruments.

In the modern era, the appearance of teeth plays a crucial role in aesthetics. There is a growing demand for brighter, whiter teeth and flawless smiles to achieve a more attractive look.

Teeth whitening is often needed due to dental discoloration, or staining, which can be intrinsic or extrinsic. Intrinsic stains, caused by factors like genetics, ageing, certain antibiotics, or excessive fluoride, occur within the tooth. Extrinsic stains, resulting from environmental factors such as smoking or pigments in foods and drinks like coffee, tea, and wine, appear on the tooth's surface.

A variety of tooth whitening methods are available, but they should only be performed under a dentist's supervision and not undertaken at home without a prescription. These methods include whitening toothpaste, whitening rinses, tray-based tooth whiteners, and professional in-office whitening treatments.

Health Benefits of Banana Peel

Banana is a widely grown and consumed fruit in tropical and subtropical regions. With an average per capita consumption of 12 kg, it ranks as the world's leading food crop after rice, wheat, and maize. Banana peels are rich in essential nutrients and bioactive compounds. They contain significant levels of potassium (K), which supports heart health and helps regulate blood pressure due to its favourable potassium-to-sodium ratio. They are also high in phosphorus, crucial for bone development, energy production, and acid-base balance, as well as zinc (Zn), important for immune function. Additionally, unripe banana peels are a notable source of iron (Fe), vital for haemoglobin production and glucose metabolism.

Can Rubbing Banana Peel for 2 minutes every day on teeth help with teeth whitening?

Banana peel contains essential nutrients, including high levels of potassium (K), which supports heart health, helps regulate blood pressure, and supports bone development and immune function. While some scientific evidence suggests banana peel may have a mild teeth-whitening effect, it is too insignificant to make a noticeable difference. Moreover, there are no consensuses within the dental fraternity to support the claim that rubbing banana peel for 2 minutes every day on teeth helps with teeth whitening.

A study published in the Annals of Dental Speciality revealed that banana peels have very little ability to whiten or bleach, and the effect is so small that it doesn’t make a noticeable difference.

Another study published in the International Journal of Ayurvedic Medicine concluded that banana peel was effective in removing stains in deciduous teeth. Although this study does not mention anything about the removal of intrinsic stains.

Yet one more study featured in the Brazilian Dental Journal showed that banana peel did not demonstrate effective teeth whitening, as it failed to achieve the perceptibility threshold for whitening, regardless of the brushing duration. Additionally, brushing with banana peel led to a yellowing effect on enamel due to carotenoid pigment incorporation.

Although some studies suggest that banana peel may have a slight whitening effect on the tooth surface, this effect is too minimal to make a significant impact as a whitening agent. Furthermore, these studies do not indicate that banana peel can remove intrinsic stains caused by factors such as excessive fluoride, genetics (natural yellowish teeth), or certain antibiotics. Additionally, there is no consensus within the dental community recommending banana peel as an effective teeth-whitening agent. Further, there is no support in the scientific community to the claim that rubbing this for two minutes everyday can lead to teeth whitening.

Dr. Bhumika Gupta Dani, Dental Surgeon, Dani Dental Clinic, Kawardha, Chhattisgarh, told Medical Dialogues, “Banana peel and other natural remedies for teeth whitening have minimal effects. Although rubbing a banana peel on teeth is harmless, it does not lead to noticeable whitening. Various tooth whitening options are available, but these should be carried out only under a dentist's supervision and not attempted at home without a prescription. Practicing good oral hygiene and having regular dental checkups remain the best ways to maintain healthy and bright teeth.”

To this Dr Jesu K Joseph, MDS, Prosthodontist, Lecturer, Sanjay Rungta Group of Institutions, Bhilai, C.G, added “Using natural remedies like banana peel for teeth whitening is safe but largely ineffective. It’s important to note that achieving significant whitening results requires scientifically proven methods administered under professional guidance. Attempting home remedies or unsupervised treatments can lead to disappointment or even harm.”

Health Dialogues Final Take

Banana peel may offer some nutrients and is safe to use, but its effectiveness as a teeth-whitening agent is minimal and unlikely to produce noticeable results. It cannot address deeper stains or significantly whiten teeth. To maintain a bright and healthy smile, focus on good oral hygiene practices and consult a dental professional for reliable options.

Hence the claim rubbing banana peel for 2 minutes every day on teeth helps with teeth whitening is Mostly False.