Is turmeric & coconut oil mix a magical teeth-whitening solution?

Hyderabad: A post proclaiming the magical teeth-whitening properties of turmeric and coconut oil has gone viral on social media.

The viral post reads, "Just by brushing your teeth with turmeric and coconut oil paste for once in a week helps to give you clean and whiter teeth and reduce tooth pain too."

Both turmeric and coconut oil are known for their medicinal properties. But can they be used to whiten your teeth? Let's find out

Fact Check

According to an article on mouthhealthy.org, "There is no reliable scientific evidence to show oil pulling or turmeric whitens teeth."

In an article titled "Can You Use Turmeric for Teeth Whitening?," Healthline said, "There are no studies yet that specifically analyze turmeric's ability to whiten teeth. All of the current evidence is anecdotal."

It further said, "As of now, however, turmeric is not considered a solid replacement for medical cosmetic teeth whitening treatments. Nor can it be considered a replacement for general oral health care."

Although studies have proved turmeric to be a healthy and risk-free natural option for oral use, its teeth-whitening property is unclear. (The studies can be found here and here.)

Can coconut oil be used as a teeth-whitening solution then? Although coconut oil is a healthy choice for oral hygiene, there is no evidence about the teeth whitening properties social media claims.

According to Healthline, "Current research suggests oil pulling with coconut oil (swishing oil in your mouth for 10 to 20 minutes) may reduce bad bacteria in the mouth, prevent gingivitis and tooth decay, and get rid of bad breath. That said, more research is needed."

Hence, the claim is false.