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Bright orange-yellow with a peppery, spicy flavour, turmeric is a critical ingredient in curries and yellow, savoury rice. The question is; can turmeric, with its intense colour, actually whiten teeth or does long-term use of the spice stain your teeth instead?

Recently turmeric has gained traction as a natural health super supplement with benefits for conditions such as arthritis, digestive disorders, respiratory infections, allergies, liver diseases and depression, among others. 

With its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties, turmeric does have oral health benefits such as preventing and treating gum diseases such as gingivitis.

What is Turmeric? 

Turmeric is a plant related to ginger.  It has been used as a spice and as medicine in South East Asia and India for thousands of years.  Turmeric is the plant’s rhizome, a stem that grows underground. Many use it for cooking and natural medicine. 

Turmeric can be found fresh, and it looks like knobbly ginger roots. Mostly turmeric is seen as a dry yellow-orange powder in shops. The supplements are usually called curcumin or Curcuma in capsule, liquid extract or pill form.

Can turmeric whiten teeth?

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), there is no scientific evidence that turmeric whitens teeth. ADA points out that with people creating their own do-it-yourself turmeric toothpaste, it is not the turmeric that is whitening their teeth but the other ingredients that they use in their products such as mint extract for flavour; coconut oil and baking soda or sodium bicarbonate.

Coconut oil has long been used for oil pulling, removing plaque, stains and other impurities from teeth, leaving teeth sparkling. While sodium bicarbonate may be why people are experiencing white smiles when they use homemade turmeric toothpaste, says ADA.  

Notably, other naturopathic toothpaste combines turmeric with natural whitening agents hydrated silica or calcium carbonate. ADA recommends that you consult your dentist about the best options for your teeth. The preferred product contains clinically proven whitening ingredients and fluoride, protecting teeth against plaque build-up.  

Experts note that turmeric is unlikely to stain your teeth but advise that it should be used for food rather than for teeth whitening due to a lack of scientific evidence. 

Benefits for oral health

According to Healthline, turmeric remains a popular natural teeth whitener, yet the evidence of its whitening properties are anecdotal at this stage. But studies do show that turmeric has oral health benefits that far surpass other natural oral health remedies and over-the-counter remedies. 

Current research shows that turmeric is an effective remedy for gums infections such as gingivitis and periodontal disease. 

Emerging scientific evidence-based findings is that turmeric has:

• Anti-inflammatory effects: studies show Curcuma gel for gums effectively treated and reduced gingival inflammation in patients. And that curcumin is comparable to chlorhexidine when used as an anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory mouthwash for patients with periodontal problems
• Plaque control properties: although fluoride toothpaste remains the number one recommendation to combat plaque build-up on teeth, researchers concluded that turmeric mouthwash does reduce plaque when used with conventional brushing and flossing techniques
• Other potential uses: ongoing research suggests curcumin is an antioxidant, antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial and wound healing ingredient for oral care products. 

Giving turmeric a try

Because turmeric is an all-natural healing remedy, it is a sought-after alternative to chemical-laden commercial products. 

Considered a safe alternative, turmeric is lauded for not having adverse side effects that commercial teeth whiteners do, such as; increased risk of gingivitis, gum pain, receding gums and tooth enamel issues.

Using turmeric as a teeth whitening product, the benefits include the reduced risk of gum pain, inflammation, and various gum diseases.

How to use turmeric as a teeth whitener

According to Healthline, all-natural turmeric toothpaste is readily available in stores, but the process is quite simple if you wish to make your own. You should only use brushing with turmeric once a day. 

Using turmeric should not replace your standard oral hygiene practice of two or three brushings a day, flossing and annual dentist cleanings, check-up, and consultation about altering your daily oral hygiene routine.

Raw turmeric does not have a pleasant taste, so add at least two drops of peppermint or spearmint extract to your concoction before dipping your brush in to do the following: 

• Scoop a teaspoon of pure organic turmeric powder into a small porcelain bowl. Before dipping your toothbrush into the powder, wet the bristles. 
• Brush your teeth by spreading the powder on your teeth and gums. Let it soak for about 5 minutes before rinsing thoroughly with water.
• Using your usual fluoride-based toothpaste or tooth powder, brush your teeth again.
• You may need more brushing and rinsing to remove any powder stuck in hard to reach places. 

If you enjoy the experience, you may want to mix your own concoction, which includes; ¼ teaspoon organic turmeric powder, 1/8 teaspoon melted organic coconut oil and ¼ teaspoon of baking soda with at least two drops of mint extract for flavour. These ingredients all have potent oral hygiene benefits. 

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