Are bananas a delicious and nutritious on-the-go snack? Mmm, actually yes. But does a banana peel whiten your teeth? Hmm, that warrants a deeper dive. It’s better to be accurate than trendy when it comes to oral health.
First off, there’s no doubting the nutritional value bananas provide, according to the National Nutrient Database from the United States Department of Agriculture. Your typical banana contains:
It’s a banana’s high mineral value that has some saying the peel can be great for whitening. The word on the web is you rub the inside of the peel on your teeth before or after brushing for a few minutes and whiter pearly whites in a few weeks.
Now the validity of this trend is purely based on anecdotal evidence. You may have seen it posted, shared, or blogged. But when it comes to removing stains from teeth, there aren’t any scientific studies that are tagging or liking banana peels for the job.
While the American Dental Association (ADA) isn’t saying banana peels are the right tool for teeth whitening — they’re also not saying they are not. What they are saying, however, is that other types of fruits (strawberries, orange peels, lemons) won’t give you positive results when you try to whiten your teeth with them. Healthy — sure. Whitening — nope. Their high acid content can hurt your teeth and not help them. Our apologies to banana believers everywhere.
Fortunately, you can eat your banana and get your whitening too. There are a few options to whiten your teeth effectively:
There are pluses and minuses per option, so it’s best to discuss them with your dentist to find the right choice for you.
The pros for bananas — plentiful. The pros for banana peels to whiten your teeth — unreliable. So keep the fruit in your diet, the peel in the trash, and the whitening discussion with your dentist ongoing.
This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
