Natural Teeth Whitening with Turmeric: Facts

Story:

Inexpensive but effective Teeth Whitening…

Use Turmeric herb to naturally whiten your teeth.

Analysis:

Over the years, various online messages along with demonstration videos (like one shown in this article) have been showing that using Turmeric herb as a brushing paste can whiten your teeth naturally. Let us analyze the effectiveness of this inexpensive and easy to use home remedy for whitening teeth.

About Turmeric

Turmeric, an ancient herb originating in India, has a number of medicinal uses. It is also known to help in Cancer and Alzheimer’s diseases. Turmeric itself can cause staining, but when the root or powder, preferably organic, is used for its abrasive qualities, it can remove some extrinsic staining to whiten teeth.

Vitro Test

In a study conducted to evaluate the inhibitory effect of Curcumin in Turmeric on S. mutans adherence to extracellular matrices and tooth surfaces, human teeth inoculated with S. mutans were treated with curcumin in vitro to examine the relevance of the anti-adhesive effect to oral conditions in vivo. It was observed that the addition of curcumin below the MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration, 128 μg/mL) level diminished bacterial adherence onto human tooth surfaces. Other research also suggested that curcuminoids may be effective in controlling both dental biofilms and dental cavity formations.

Whitening Procedure

As shown in the video, mix about 1/2 teaspoon of Turmeric powder with water to form a paste and brush your stained teeth with it. Finish with a regular tooth brushing. While your toothbrush will become yellow, your teeth will gradually become whiter. Using fresh turmeric root, preferably organic, will be more effective, as the fibrous root will rub stains off your teeth more vigorously than brushing with the powder. But remember to be gentle on your teeth and gums, and avoid long term use, as it can cause excessive wear.