Experts warn against social media trend promoting banana peel paste to whiten teeth

“Best natural recipe for whitening teeth at home,” reads a Facebook post published alongside a video on September 9, 2024.

The 50-second clip, which received over 1.4 million views, was shared by an account called “Natural Health Tips”. It features a narrator in the form of a “doctor” created with artificial intelligence (AI). 

The top half of the split screen shows a montage of different sets of teeth that slowly turn from yellow to white.

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Screenshot of the false Facebook video, taken on September 16, 2024

The AI-generated character credits a mixture of banana peels, salt, lemon, and toothpaste for the brighter smiles.

“I finally found the best recipe to whiten your teeth at home in one minute,” he says.

Similar variations of the teeth-whitening claim have been saved and shared tens of thousands of times on various social networks, especially TikTok.

However, dental practitioners told AFP Fact Check that the alleged advice was dangerous and the benefits limited.

Harmful effects

“There are no benefits, but the danger lies in the acidity of the lemon juice which will demineralise the tooth enamel and cause tooth erosion,” said Joy Shackleton, the department head of prosthodontics at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa (archived here).

She told AFP Fact Check that tooth erosion can lead to tooth sensitivity and thinning of the enamel, which could see the tooth appearing darker or more yellow.

“The above-mentioned ingredients can have some effect on ‘teeth brightening’, but it is important to understand how they work and their potential drawbacks,” said Zunaid Vally, who runs the department of odontology at the University of Pretoria (archived here).

Describing how each ingredient works, Vally said banana peels for instance can help to remove “superficial stains” and may provide “a slightly brightening effect”. However, this is “minimal and temporary”.

Meanwhile, the gentle use of salt can remove surface stains, too, but “overuse can lead to enamel wear if applied too aggressively or frequently, especially if used in a paste form”.

“I would not advise patients to use these ingredients or similar [ones] long-term to whiten their teeth. Instead, have your teeth professionally cleaned every six months and seek professional advice,” Vally added.

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Screenshot of Vally’s breakdown of each ingredient and its limitations

Both experts warned about the dangers of following medical advice on social media.

“Non-medically trained individuals may offer advice that can be misleading or even harmful. It is therefore important to cross-reference any medical information with reputable sources,” Vally said.

He noted that social media can be a starting point to raise awareness but shouldn not replace professional medical advice.

Safe teeth brightening 

Before undertaking any teeth-whitening procedures, Shackleton said patients should be know that existing crowns and fillings will not bleach like the enamel on tooth surfaces. 

Treating any tooth or gum disease is also advisable before whitening products are applied. 

“There are tooth whitening procedures that can be done in-office by dental practitioners, and this is the quickest way to achieve results,” Shackleton said. Dentists can also supply products for at-home use though results may take longer. 

AFP Fact Check has verified numerous health-related claims over the years that you can read here.