You are surfing the internet to find inexpensive ways to whiten teeth. Using a banana peel usually comes as an easy and cheap solution to get a brighter smile.
However, is it effective enough to remove stains?
The usual methods for whitening are either teeth whitening kits or dental whitening.
So if you want a cheaper and readily available solution, can a banana help you to smile confidently?
This article discusses if using the white part of the banana peel can remove stains and whiten your teeth.
Keep reading below to know more!
Teeth Whitening Options
There are two ways to whiten teeth, using abrasives or a bleaching agent.
Abrasives are usually present in toothpaste as these are the substances that rub against your teeth in order to remove stains.
However, there is a risk of them wearing away your enamel. If the abrasives are harsh then the enamel wears down exposing the dentin which is darker in color.
The darker dentin can show through your teeth making it harder to clean them.
Hence, the whitening effect is of no use if you do not use a mild abrasive and use it gently. In that case, the abrasives will remove surface-level stains.
The other way to whiten your teeth is to use a bleaching agent.
A bleaching agent is either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.
This goes deeper in the enamel and whitens the teeth up to a few shades.
When dentists use a gel containing bleaching agent in procedures like Zoom teeth whitening, it can bring up to 8 shades of whiteness.
This is because these gels contain a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide than that found in OTC kits or gels.
OTC teeth whitening kits have gels, strips, pens and trays that use gel containing carbamide peroxide usually.
Its concentration is usually safer to use at home, making your teeth less sensitive.
So does banana peel contain any of these two?
It does not!
Even if the peel has a slightly rough texture, it is not abrasive.
Next, it does not contain any of the bleaching agents that actually whiten the shade of your teeth rather than simply removing stains.
Though, it does contain several nutrients which give it the reputation of also working well for your teeth whitening.
This brings us to…
What Does a Banana Contain?
Bananas are great to eat.
They are loaded with nutrients that keep you healthy and fit.
Plus, they are just the right amount of naturally sweet and contain no acids that can erode your teeth.
Bananas contain 3 grams of fiber.
Now vegetables and fruits containing fiber are known as minim toothbrushes for teeth.
They keep gums and teeth clean by keeping the saliva flowing.
This eliminates the bacteria and plaque that can further stain your teeth, discoloring them.
Moreover, bananas contain 422mg of potassium.
Potassium helps to improve bone mineral density. Moreover, it contains 32 mg of magnesium which works in tandem with potassium.
Potassium and magnesium work together so that the blood does not become acidic.
If that happens, calcium leaches away from your teeth as well as your bones.
Calcium is one of the important minerals in the enamel, if it leaches off, the enamel is harmed and weakened.
Hence, these nutrients are valuable to your health.
Other than that, even the peel is full of nutrients.
They contain Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12 and protein other than magnesium, potassium and fiber.
Due to its high nutritional and mineral value, people associate these with whitening.
However, even having these vitamins and minerals is not enough for whitening teeth.
The lack of abrasives and bleaching agents as well as that of scientific evidence will not be enough to support the claim that it helps in whitening.
If you are not convinced despite that, try to use it in your oral hygiene routine.
Using Banana Peel for Whitening
There isn’t exactly evidence stating that banana peels are effective in whitening.
Is there any exclaiming its dangers on teeth?
Well, one way in which the peel can harm your teeth is by causing a slight abrasion.
The peel is not as rough to cause abrasion that can wear down your enamel but it can still have a slight effect provided that you are rubbing it against the teeth.
That said, it is generally harmless to use.
If you want to experiment with it while you are looking at ways to whiten your teeth using home remedies and cheap alternatives then use the following way.
- Keep a banana peel, toothpaste and toothbrush in sight.
- Rub the white side of the peel all over your teeth not skipping a single spot.
- Once you are done with rubbing it all over, let the matter stay on your teeth for a while. This is similar to how you will keep the whitening gels onto your teeth to get maximum effects.
- While you are letting it stay, do not close your lips, keeping them away from your teeth.
- Next, you will need a dry toothbrush
- Use the toothbrush to work the matter of the banana into your teeth covering parts that could be missed
- Finally, brush your teeth using a wet toothbrush and toothpaste to remove all of the banana matter.
- In order to see results, repeat this procedure several times.
By all means, this is not a surefire way to get teeth whitening results.
For that, you will need Teeth Whitening Zoom or other dental procedures.
However, if you want to give it a try, then this is how you do it.
Whether you will see results or not, can be seen after you give it a try.
What Should You Not Use to Whiten Teeth?
While banana peels may not give you the desired result, they are at least not harming your teeth.
Damage can occur if you rub the peel roughly onto your teeth and enamel.
However, that too may be minimal.
The white of the peel does not signify whitening teeth power and neither does the presence of minerals.
That said, if you want to try it once to see the results for yourself, it will be a rather harmless process.
Though, you cannot trust everything you read on the internet.
Certain fruits are a total No-No!
You will also hear about the whitening properties of strawberry and orange peels.
These are fruits you should never use on your teeth.
Strawberries contain citric acid, malic acid and ellagic acid.
By all means, these acids are not good for your teeth. They can erode your enamel and make it prone to cavities and decay.
Moreover, orange peel and lemon usually come in recommendations too.
Applying any citrus fruit is a bad option.
It will not only weaken your enamel, increasing your risk of decay but will also make your teeth more sensitive to temperatures.
Hence, they will deteriorate your teeth and also increase tooth sensitivity.
Your best option is to go for methods that are proven to whiten teeth.
If you think that dental whitening is a really expensive option then look out for teeth whitening products.
These OTC products are rather affordable to use and while they may require consistency, the products will give results.
Find out more about them below!
Oral Hygiene Products That Work Other Than A Banana Peel
First, even before whitening, you need to maintain good oral hygiene.
Thus, you should never skip brushing twice a day and flossing.
While you are brushing teeth, opt for whitening toothpaste.
This contains mild abrasives that can remove surface stains and may even whiten your teeth up to one shade.
Besides that, visit your dentist regularly.
Getting teeth cleanings often help to remove tartar which can turn your teeth yellow.
Thus, removing plaque and tartar on a regular basis will keep your smile bright and healthy.
If you are looking for a quick solution then getting a dental whitening procedure is your answer.
Only one session is enough to bring a drastic change on the shade of your teeth.
Though, there are several OTC products that can help you too.
Gel
A teeth whitening gel contains the bleaching agent that lessens the saturation of stains and breaks them down.
The bleach may also get deeper inside to whiten the yellow discoloration.
However, there is a chance that your teeth may become more sensitive afterward.
Strips and Mouth Tray
You can either apply a gel directly with a tiny brush or use it in the form of strips or mouth trays.
The translucent strips contain the gel with the bleaching agent that whitens teeth.
Wear it for 10 to 14 days following the instructions and see the results lasting for 4 months.
Mouth trays work similarly. Adding a drop of gel is enough to evenly cover all of your teeth in a tray.
A whitening pen can also provide temporary and quick fixes on the go. Though all of these options are still better than a banana peel.
Therefore, you can eat as many bananas as you want but using them for whitening brings no good.
