The Combination Of Charcoal, Turmeric, And Coconut Oil Is A No-No.

Most individuals want whiter, brighter teeth. There are several unusual techniques that are used to whiten teeth. What is the most effective method for teaching our patients so that we may better assist them?

There are a few near-universal questions. 98% of new patients at my office say "yes" when asked whether they want whiter teeth. According to the Australian Dental Association, "whiter teeth" is the most popular improvement people want to make (ADA).

Even if many individuals want whiter teeth, the information in publications, blogs, vlogs, social media, and other sources is very variable. Google is the first place most people visit when they want to whiten their teeth.

How can we teach patients to distinguish between established scientific facts and fads while they are still in the chair?

Common Practices

To communicate effectively with patients, we must understand how they may be misled by incorrect information. During my years of patient engagement at my clinic and at trade events across the country, I witnessed widespread uncertainty about the proper, safe, and efficient way to whiten teeth. Some unusual methods I've heard are:

Oil Swishing: One patient used oil pulling to whiten her teeth and added turmeric. She believed swishing coconut oil in her mouth and applying turmeric to her teeth would whiten them. We all know that this procedure does not work to whiten teeth.

Scouring teeth with acidic foods: Another patient stated she used citrus fruits to whiten her teeth at home. Acid is known to damage enamel. Acidic foods should be eaten sparingly and never scraped against tooth enamel.

Charcoal and baking soda: At a trade show, I was asked an unusual question "I've been using charcoal toothpaste and baking soda to whiten my teeth. Does it work?" I questioned where he got this idea. He replied, "I saw thousands of five-star ratings on Google and thought it would be a nice idea to try." As far as we know, charcoal does not work or is harmless for the teeth.

Educating Yourself

We need to stop using harsh, untested materials. It's important to warn people not to accept everything they read online, especially if it's not written by a dentist. How can we help people distinguish between good and bad dental advice?

We have multiple safe and effective teeth-whitening solutions. First, ask yourself about eating and drinking habits. Coffee, tea, or wine? Do you eat berries? Smoking? The Tooth Heaven team would be able to help you better after we know the answers to these questions. We can then offer whitening toothpaste with an ADA Seal of Acceptance, home treatments, or in-office treatments.

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References

Frank, Christine. “Turmeric Teeth Whitening.” The Combination of Charcoal, Turmeric, and Coconut Oil Is a No-No., www.healthline.com/health/turmeric-teeth-whitening.

Lapidos, Rachel. “Can Turmeric and Coconut Oil Help You Get Brilliant White Teeth?” The Combination of Charcoal, Turmeric, and Coconut Oil Is a No-No., 21 Sept. 2001, www.wellandgood.com/turmeric-whitens-teeth/.