Mixing a vibrant yellow spice with coconut oil might not seem like the ideal solution to brighten dull or stained teeth, but some beauty and wellness influencers swear by it.
When Newsweek contacted dentists about teeth whitening, experts were divided on whether turmeric—traditionally used to spice food and dye clothes—would turn teeth yellow or help whiten them.
In an Instagram video from September with over 1,000 comments from the Hormone Hype Sisters, (@balancedbeyars), Julie Beyars said of the yellow mix: “This is the best at-home whitening toothpaste.”
She advised a ratio of one teaspoon of turmeric powder to one quarter cup of coconut oil and said, “It seriously whitens my teeth so much!” adding that he used the hack twice a week before weddings or events.
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Last year, Evette from the TikTok channel @itsevette said almost the same thing, inside a video that now has 440,600 likes—except she recommended combining two tablespoons of turmeric with half a cup of coconut oil.
“As you can see, my teeth are pearly white and I only use coconut oil and a little turmeric powder,” Evette said in the video, calling the paste: “Magic gold for your teeth.”
“It’s crazy because turmeric stains everything, but when you add turmeric and coconut oil together, it doesn’t stain — it actually does the opposite to your teeth,” she said.
In another TikTok videothis time from July, user @babzy531 said the hack had prevented her from going to the dentist since 2015, despite being a smoker and drinking tea and coffee.
He said, “Trust me, it works,” and “This will save you thousands, hundreds of dollars.”
She recommended not only brushing with turmeric and coconut oil, but also following the process by swishing a scoop of coconut oil around the mouth, like a mouthwash.
All three creators warned that the breach would stain toothbrushes and clog pipes if spit in the sink, so they recommended spitting in the bucket.
Dentists on the turmeric teeth whitening trend
Most of the dentists I spoke with Newsweek they were either skeptical of the trend or advised against it.
Dr. Nina Khedkar, owner of Charles River Orthodontics in Massachusetts, said Newsweek: “A mixture of turmeric and coconut oil is not considered an effective teeth whitening strategy and can stain your teeth yellow due to turmeric’s vibrant pigment, despite the claims of its whitening abilities. I wouldn’t recommend doing this at all.”
Dr. Fatima Khan, co-founder of Riven Oral Care dental products, spoke in a similar vein, saying, “It’s become quite the trend lately to brush your teeth with turmeric and then follow with regular toothpaste.
“Here’s the thing: turmeric is a pretty dark yellow color and it can be hard to brush it off completely.
“I’ve seen it stain some of my patients’ teeth because they didn’t rinse and brush enough after using it—and when turmeric sits on the teeth for too long, it can actually make them look more yellow. , no less.”
And regarding the practice of swishing oil around the mouth, Khan said there is “limited scientific evidence” to support its effectiveness.
Dr Steven Barefoot, clinical lead at dental insurer DentaQuest, said Newsweek: “There is no reliable evidence that the combination would whiten teeth, and I doubt it would stain enamel.”
It was his view that the hack was not harmful, but “wouldn’t serve any oral health purpose either.”
But Dr Jessica Tasios, of Oral Dental in Birmingham, England, disagreed. she said Newsweek that the hack worked.
“It’s safe and can even help reduce gum inflammation,” Tasios said. “Turmeric also has antibacterial properties, making it one of the best home remedies for oral health.”
Tassios clarified that “there is no scientific evidence that this combination whitens teeth,” but said there was “a lot of anecdotal evidence” that it was effective.
As such, while he couldn’t officially recommend it as an option, Tasios said the hack did no harm and saw “no inherent danger” in it.
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