I love finding natural, alternative ways to deal with certain issues, and although I haven't tried this particular method of whitening teeth, it certainly can't do much harm. And the best part, it only costs the price of a banana.
People love having bright pearly whites, but many things can cause stains including certain foods, smoking and caffeine. There are a myriad of ways to whiten yellowing teeth- from expensive treatments at your dentist, to cheaper over-the-counter DIY processes. But those can cause problems from stripping the enamel on your bicuspids to sensitivity. One woman even comments about its addictive nature, and the potential for chemical burns and leaving your teeth even yellower. When you think about it, the idea of putting chemicals in your mouth that you could easily swallow isn't such a good idea.
So, here's the banana treatment. Again, I have not tried it so I can't vouch for its efficacy, but it might be worth a try.
The instructions on E-How suggest that you can either brush your teeth first (preferably with a natural toothpaste) or after, but I would recommend brushing after to prevent plaque build-up from food deposits. In fact, I would also floss after the banana peel treatment, and then brush your teeth. They suggest using a ripe banana since ripe ones have more potassium. Apparently its all the minerals including the potassium, manganese, and magnesium that help with the whitening.
HOW TO:
1. Peel a banana as you normally would. Save the fruit to eat later or freeze in chunks to use in smoothies.
2. Cut a piece of banana peel and start to gently rub the soft inside part (where the peel meets the fruit) against your teeth for about 2 to 3 minutes.
They also recommend doing this twice a day, morning and night.
If anyone has tried this, I would love to know what the results were. If I decide to try this, I will update you, as well.
