Can the mixture of banana peel, lemon, salt, and toothpaste whiten teeth?

Claim: A Facebook page, Healthy Tips, claims that banana peel, lemon, salt, and toothpaste can whiten teeth.

Verdict: Misleading. Research and experts’ opinions show that the mixture is ineffective for teeth whitening and may even damage oral health by wearing down enamel and causing sensitivity.

Full Text

With over one million followers, a Facebook page named Healthy Tips shared a video claiming that a mixture of banana peel, lemon juice, salt, and toothpaste can whiten teeth. The video instructs viewers to scrape banana pulp into a bowl, add half a lemon’s juice, a pinch of salt, and a tablespoon of toothpaste, then mix and brush for two minutes, promising instant whitening results.

As of Sept. 16, 2025, the post had attracted more than 60,000 likes, 14,000 reshares, and 542 comments. 

One user, Kashetu K. Kasha, wrote, “I did this for 5 days and half of my teeth became black, make una go find work do.” 

Another user, Joan Dilworth Harkinson, commented, “There is no way that toothpaste and a banana are going to remove tartar instantly spoken from a 34-year hygienist.” 

Gabriella Berhe questioned, “Why does everyone become a doctor?” while Charles Williams wrote, “My neighbor did it for a whole 2 weeks, all it did was make his gums sore.” 

Yet, others like Moseray Tholley expressed interest, saying, “I love this recipe, I will try it someday.”

DUBAWA chose to fact-check the claim due to its virality and because it is a health issue that could mislead millions of people.

What Science Says

Banana peels contain minerals like potassium, magnesium, and manganese, leading some to believe they might whiten teeth. However, scientific evidence does not support this. 

A 2022 study published in the Brazilian Dental Journal titled “Whitening efficacy of popular natural products on dental enamel” and indexed on PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, reported that banana peels had no significant whitening effect on animal teeth; some samples showed slight yellowing.

Additional experimental studies, here, here, and here, support the 2022 Brazilian Dental Journal findings, consistently demonstrating that banana peels have no significant effect on teeth whitening. The slight brightness occasionally observed is likely attributed to the mechanical removal of surface stains through rubbing, rather than any genuine whitening properties.

On the other hand, Lemon juice, which is popularly used in DIY remedies, is highly acidic and can erode enamel, causing sensitivity and permanent damage rather than whitening. Salt also has abrasive qualities and may scrub surface stains, but it does not whiten teeth and can also harm enamel if overused. Toothpaste helps maintain oral hygiene and may remove surface stains. However, only clinically formulated whitening products with agents such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide can safely brighten teeth beyond regular cleaning.

Experts Opinion

A Dentist, Timileyin Daniel, noted that the abrasive nature of the mixture may produce a superficial cleansing effect but warned of risks. “The clinical method of teeth whitening involves using hydrogen peroxide or similar chemicals. Excessive abrasion removes the enamel’s protective layer, leading to serious tooth sensitivity,” he explained.

Dental therapist Deborah Temitope acknowledged that such mixtures might produce short-term results but emphasised their long-term dangers. “Yes, it can whiten teeth, but it is not advisable. Lemon juice wears away the enamel, causing sharp sensitivity. This method was used before modern dentistry but is unsafe today,” she said. 

She further explained that professional whitening involves scaling and polishing, followed by applying safe whitening agents under clinical supervision, often with the aid of laser technology. She added that, “home kits also exist, though they are less effective and may still damage enamel if overused.”

Conclusion

The claim that banana peel, lemon, salt, and toothpaste can whiten teeth is misleading. Scientific studies and dental experts confirm that the mixture is not an effective whitening method and may harm oral health by eroding enamel and increasing sensitivity.