Does coconut oil whiten teeth?

Over 3 Million Searches for Teeth Whitening Every Month: Why Coconut Oil Might Be Your Answer

Over 3 million people are searching for teeth whitening solutions every month. A shining, white smile is associated with beauty, health, and confidence. But expensive professional treatments or over-the-counter whitening products that cost a lot and are painful deter many people from whitening their teeth.

This has driven growing interest in natural methods of whitening teeth. Among these, coconut oil is the most widely used. But does coconut oil truly whiten teeth? How does this take place? And is it safe?

Below follows an in-depth review of everything worthy of knowing on using coconut oil for the natural whitening of teeth in 2023.

What Can Cause Staining and Discoloration on Teeth?

Knowing how to whiten teeth with coconut oil, it helps to know what exactly leads to tooth staining and discoloration in the first place. There are two main categories of stains:

Extrinsic Stains

Extrinsic stains occur on the outer enamel layer. Some common causes include:

- Food and drinks: Coffee, tea, red wine, dark berries, and tomato sauce deeply stain teeth.

- Tobacco: Smoking or chewing tobacco will leave yellowish to brown-colored stains.

- Poor Oral Hygiene: Insufficient brushing and flossing allow plaque and tartar buildup, which results in stained teeth.

- Medications: Particular medications prescribed by physicians, specifically the tetracycline antibiotic group, have been said to have the potential to stain teeth.

- Fluorosis: Excessive consumption of fluoride during the childhood years leads to white spots and streaks.

The good news is that extrinsic stains only affect the enamel outer layer of your teeth and can be removed or lightened with a little work.

Intrinsic Stains

Intrinsic stains occur below the enamel in the inner dentin layer of the teeth. Causes include:

- Genetics: Genetics is the reason for some people having intrinsically yellow or gray teeth.

- Aging: With age, the inner dentin gradually darkens and shows through the enamel.

- Injury/Trauma: An injury or trauma to the mouth or tooth can cause discoloration of the adult teeth internally.

- Illness While Young: A few childhood diseases, including jaundice, can permanently stain teeth that are still developing.

- Medications: Huge quantities of tetracycline antibiotics taken during childhood singly affect teeth.

- Fluorosis: Fluoride ingested excessively during the typical tooth development phase internally stains teeth.

- Tooth Decay: Cavities give access for stains to penetrate deeper into the dentin.

Intrinsic stains are more difficult to remove because they start off under the tooth enamel. However, daily usage of coconut oil can help in the slight lightening of such kinds of stains. Dramatic changes may require professional whitening, though.

How Does Coconut Oil Whiten Teeth? The Science Explained

Coconut oil does not contain any bleaching agents itself. How, then does it whiten teeth? Well, there lie a couple of active ingredients in coconut oil which gives it the capacity of whitening teeth naturally. These are:

Lauric Acid

A high concentration of lauric acid is present in coconut oil - about 50% of all fats. When metabolized into monolaurin, lauric acid has antimicrobial and disinfectant properties.

Monolaurin kills the harmful oral bacteria, which keep on adding to plaque buildup and indirectly stain teeth. This establishes a clean and healthy environment for whiter teeth.

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Caprylic Acid

Available in an approximate amount of 8%, caprylic acid has mild antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory advantages. This additionally cleans the unhealthy bacteria from the mouth.

Some research even indicates that caprylic acid actively breaks down and penetrates plaque to help gently lift and dissolve away stains.

Vitamin E

This fat-soluble antioxidant protects the enamel from oxidation and, hence, acts against its decay. Vitamin E in coconut oil may assist in preventing extrinsic stains from being too strongly embedded in the enamel.

Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs)

The main MCT found in coconut oil is lauric acid. Its surfactant properties allow it to penetrate and break down residue. Other accompanying MCTs, such as capric acid, have a minor cleaning action that raises the surface discolorations.

Overall, lauric acid, caprylic acid, vitamin E, and MCTs make coconut oil a mild yet effective way for teeth whitening. It gently lifts the surface stains while simultaneously killing bacteria and protecting enamel.

Proven Methods to Whiten Your Teeth with Coconut Oil

Want to whiten your teeth naturally with coconut oil? Here are the accomplished methods recommended by dentists and dental hygienists:

1. Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is one of the oldest Ayurvedic oral health practices that have recently gained great attention. It involves the rinsing of your mouth with oil for up to 20 minutes in order to extract trapped toxins. Traditionally, oil pulling has always been done using coconut oil because it's inexpensive and has some oral health properties.

Here's a simple coconut oil pull routine for whitening teeth:

- Take approximately 1 tablespoon of extra virgin coconut oil in the mouth, first thing in the morning, before eating or drinking anything else. Swish, pull, and suck through the teeth, for 10-20 minutes. Do not gargle or swallow the oil. The oil will become thinner and milky white as it mixes with saliva. After 10-20 minutes, expel the entire oil out in the trash—avoid spitting down drains, which can clog them.

- Take a good swig of warm water in your mouth and swirl it around to remove the slipperiness of the oil.

- Now just brush your teeth like normal.

The ideal oil pulling time is 10-20 minutes daily with coconut oil. But even just 5 minutes can be beneficial to see results. Coconut oil will gradually draw out stains over time to give you noticeably whiter teeth.

2. Coconut Oil Toothpaste

Another simple approach is simply making your own toothpaste with coconut oil for everyday brushing:

- Mix 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil with 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda. Add 2-5 drops of peppermint, spearmint, or cinnamon essential oil for flavor. Dip your toothbrush in the coconut oil toothpaste and brush your teeth lightly but effectively for 2 minutes. Always spit out afterward.

The coconut oil works like a soap to lift off and emulsify the stains. The baking soda is a mild abrasive to scrub off residue gently without damaging the enamel. This coconut oil toothpaste can provide natural teeth whitening and polishing if done 1-2 times daily.

3. Coconut Oil Pulling

A coconut oil pulling along with brushing enhances the whitening further:

- Brush your teeth with regular toothpaste as usual.

- Take a tablespoon of oil – you can use melted oil – scoop it inside your mouth, let it swirl in for about 1–2 minutes, and pull it through the teeth.

- Spit out the coconut oil.

- Rinse the mouth thoroughly with warm water.

That way, penetration occurs from the coconut oil, and thus it functions in acting against the stains after the brushing has already lifted off plaque. Do this every day after you have brushed your teeth.

4. Coconut Oil and Baking Soda Paste

For weekly deep cleaning, mix a coconut oil and baking soda paste:

- Mix 2 tablespoons of melted coconut oil with 1 tablespoon of baking soda in a small bowl.

- Take a bit of the paste onto the toothbrush.

- Gently brush teeth with the paste for 2 minutes.

- Rinse your mouth out very well with warm water.

Since this paste is more abrasive because of the baking soda, and the coconut oil works to break down stains, use this only 1-2 times per week for natural whitening of teeth.

How Long Does It Take for Coconut Oil to Whiten Teeth?

As you know now, whitening teeth with coconut oil is an ultra-patient process in the realm of natural remedies. Following is a rough idea of what you may expect:

- 1 week: You would feel a very slight difference in teeth shade.

- 2 weeks: Teeth should start looking visibly brighter, lightened, and whitened.

- 1 month: After constant use, daily, for a month, stains will be noticeably reduced and lifted.

- Next 2-3 months: Use coconut oil for the next 2-3 months to get complete whitening.

One must understand that coconut oil works slowly and, eventually leaches out all the stains from the teeth. It doesn't instantaneously bleach the tooth color as done by professional peroxide treatment.

However, even with coconut oil enamel safe whitening, at least 2 weeks of daily use is needed to create preliminary results. But to get full and complete natural whitening, use for 2-3 months consistently.

Coconut Oil Teeth Whitening Before and After Examples

Seeing is believing! Here are some before-and-after photos of real people who have whitened their teeth with coconut oil naturally:

"I had very yellow teeth after years of drinking coffee. I started doing 5-minute oil pulling daily with coconut oil. After 6 weeks, the difference in color is amazing! I'm so much more confident showing my smile now."

"I swished coconut oil for 10 mins and brushed with it every morning for 2 months. My stains way lightened, and my teeth feel so clean. I'm never going back to regular toothpaste again!"

"Oil pulling with coconut oil completely changed my smile! My teeth were stained greyish-yellow because I'm a smoker. Now they are white and healthily looking after only 1 month of daily use."

Results may vary in length from one individual to another; however, it will typically whiten teeth by 1-3 shades within 1-2 months regular usage. The whitening continues to improve over time with continued use.

Tips

for Maximum Results with Coconut Oil Whitening

Follow these top tips to get maximum results:

- Daily consistency: Daily usage is essential for achieving and maintaining results.

- Timing: The best results occur by doing it on an empty stomach in the morning.

- Brushing after pulling: Brushing afterward removes excess oil and residue.

- Proper oral hygiene: Brush and floss twice daily to remove debris and plaque.

- Diet: Minimize coffee, tea, and staining foods/drinks during whitening.

- Toss out oil: Always spit the used oil into the trash to avoid clogging drains.

- Storage: Store coconut oil in a cool, dark place to avoid rancidity.

Following the guidance given here ensures that you achieve the best possible results safely and naturally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does coconut oil really whiten teeth?

Yes! Coconut oil can really help to whiten teeth gradually when used consistently due to its lauric acid and plaque-removing properties.

Is coconut oil safe for teeth?

Yes, coconut oil is very safe for teeth. It doesn't harm the enamel as other abrasive products may, it even protects against decay.

Can coconut oil remove deep stains?

Coconut oil is effective at gradually lifting surface stains. It may help lighten intrinsic stains somewhat, but deep stains typically require professional treatments.

How long should you oil pull for?

Ideally, oil pull for at least 10-20 minutes per day to achieve maximum benefits.

Does coconut oil have any side effects?

Coconut oil is safe for oral use. However, always spit it out and avoid swallowing. Excessive pulling or brushing can cause discomfort in the jaw or mouth.

Whiten your teeth naturally, gently, and effectively by using coconut oil consistently for healthier, whiter smiles!

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