Can Banana Peels Help Brighten Teeth?

Bananas are great ingredients for breads and smoothies, but are they also something you can use to get a whiter, brighter smile? The internet and various social media sites would likely say yes—somewhere—but as with all health trends, it never hurts to get more information before you try it out yourself. That’s what we’re here for, so here is what you should know about banana peels as a teeth whitening method.

How Does Banana Peel Whitening Work?

According to the USDA’s National Nutrient Database, bananas are very nutritious foods, with one medium-sized banana containing 422 milligrams of potassium, three grams of fiber, and 32 milligrams of magnesium. Given the number of minerals within bananas and banana peels, it’s caused some to believe the peels can actually whiten teeth. According to the claim, individuals just have to rub the inner side of a banana peel on their teeth for several minutes before brushing their teeth or afterward. Believers claim that rubbing the teeth with a peel every day for two to three weeks can produce a whiter smile.

Can Banana Peel Whitening Work?

So far, the idea of banana peels whitening a person’s teeth has only anecdotal evidence backing it up. Tabloids and personal blogs have claimed it works as a natural whitening process, but no scientific studies so far have examined how effective banana peels allegedly are at clearing the teeth of stains.

While the American Dental Association (ADA) hasn’t given an opinion regarding banana peels for whitening teeth, it has provided an opinion for other fruits, such as lemons, strawberries, and orange peels, as whitening methods—and that’s to not try it. You can certainly enjoy a fruit’s nutritional benefits by eating it, but there won't be positive results in terms of teeth whitening. Many fruits have high amounts of acid, and they could end up harming your teeth rather than helping them.

Tooth Whitening Alternatives

While banana peels are better left in the trash or a compost pile, there are still other effective methods for teeth whitening to choose from. Per the ADA, establishing a regular oral healthcare routine, including brushing twice per day, can greatly help to improve your teeth’s brightness, especially if done using whitening toothpaste.

You could also consider asking your dental professional about performing teeth whitening at the office. A professional teeth whitening can usually remove a greater number of stains and establish whiter teeth faster than an at-home treatment. Because this isn’t the right choice for everyone, consider discussing the good and bad of getting a professional tooth whitening with your dental professional before going forward with it.

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