Vinegar for White Teeth: Does Science Support the Method?
Table of Contents
- Is Vinegar Tooth Whitening Safe?
- Whitening Vinegar Damage
- Types of Vinegar Tooth Whitening
- Other Tooth Whitening Products
- Other Ways to Brighten Smile
Vinegar is known as a cure-all among natural remedy seekers, with a long tradition of use for health and household purposes. Recently, it’s even gotten some attention from beauty bloggers and the like for its potential as a teeth whitener.
Yes, vinegar can whiten and brighten teeth. Vinegar is an extremely acidic substance. Apple cider vinegar, for example, has a PH of 2.4. Acids can destroy some of the stain molecules on teeth to reveal a whiter smile.
But whitening your teeth with vinegar isn’t safe. It can result in tooth enamel damage and, ultimately, more yellow-looking teeth.
The same acidity that provides whitening will also wear away on tooth enamel. Continually whitening your teeth with vinegar (or any abrasive substance) will lead to your teeth thinning.
Eventually, your enamel may become so worn down as to show shades of your dentin (the inner tissue that forms most of your tooth). Dentin has a yellowish tone. The more it’s revealed, the more your teeth will look yellow or brown.
Is vinegar tooth whitening unsafe?
The American Dental Association says vinegar isn’t a safe product for tooth whitening. It’s an acidic product that can wear away your dental enamel—a thin shell that protects your teeth from cavities and other forms of damage.
In 2014, researchers performed a study using vinegar on cow’s teeth. Some teeth were treated with white vinegar, others with apple vinegar, and others with hydrogen peroxide. The researchers found that all products could bleach the teeth, but white vinegar caused damage to the teeth. They were less hard after the exposure.
After reading studies like this, some people shifted to drinking vinegar-based products instead of placing them on their teeth. Even this method isn’t safe. In 2021, researchers examined the impact of swallowing vinegar for eight weeks on dental hardness. They found that people who used vinegar had an 18% increase in erosive wear. In other words, the vinegar hurt their teeth.
How whitening your teeth with vinegar causes damage
Your teeth are protected by a very thin layer of enamel. The Oral Health Foundation explains that your enamel gets softer for a short time whenever you eat or drink something acidic. In time, your saliva cancels the acidity and helps your mouth to improve. However, if you expose your teeth to acid too often, they can’t recover effectively, and your enamel can fade away.
The American Dental Association says that tooth erosion is permanent. Once your enamel is gone, it doesn’t come back.
Common signs of dental enamel damage include the following:
Pain or sensitivity when eating or drinking something hot, cold, or very sweet
Yellowing of the teeth
Shifting fillings
More cavities than usual
Abscesses (in severe cases)
Types of vinegar used for tooth whitening
The two main types of vinegar sometimes suggested for teeth whitening are apple cider vinegar and white vinegar. There are differences between these two vinegars and how they may affect teeth.
Whitening teeth with apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a natural and fermented product. One of the most well-known brands of apple cider vinegar, Bragg, explains the process of making organic apple cider vinegar on their website:
Organic non-seeded and unpeeled apples are crushed into apple juice.
With the bacteria and sugar from the apples, the apple juice is fermented into ethanol.
The now-alcoholic apple juice is fermented again. This time the alcohol is converted to acetic acid. The vinegar “mother” is formed, which contains “good” bacteria and enzymes. Many apple cider vinegars are sold with the mother in the bottle.
Water is added, diluting the vinegar to a 5% acidity.
Apple cider vinegar is fermented apple juice, and the final product has an average pH between 2.5 and 3, experts say. Fluids like this are classified as an acid. Prolonged contact with your teeth and an acidic compound like apple cider vinegar can dissolve the enamel of your teeth and cause tooth decay.
While using apple cider vinegar for whitening purposes can be counterproductive and damaging to your teeth, some still believe it’s a product that can promote oral health. Some dentists still advise its use for toothaches, and research shows It may be effective in reducing plaque and gingivitis. Still, its effect on the enamel must be considered when using it even in moderation.
Whitening teeth with white vinegar
Just like with apple cider vinegar, white vinegar is also an acidic product, and it can cause even more damage to your teeth than apple cider vinegar (if regular, not distilled, white vinegar is used).
White vinegar is made with grain alcohol. Oxygen is mixed into the alcohol to ferment it, creating bacteria and acetic acid. Unlike apple cider vinegar, there is no live “mother.”
Culinary recipes may call for distilled white vinegar. This is white vinegar that has been diluted to 5% (the same as apple cider vinegar).
For cleaning purposes, regular (non-distilled) white vinegar is often used. This may have an acidity of up to 25% and should never be ingested or used on teeth.
Like apple cider vinegar, white vinegar is acidic. It will remove some stains and brighten teeth because of its acidity, but it will also damage the enamel of your teeth.
And while apple cider vinegar is known for its health benefits and contains live cultures, white vinegar is mainly used in cleaning. It has not been shown to reduce plaque.
Other tooth whitening products to consider
While vinegar treatments aren’t safe for your teeth, several other options are available. This chart can explain your choices at a glance, and we’ll provide more information below.
Product | Efficacy | Safety | Cost |
Bleaching toothpastes | Low | Can cause tooth sensitivity if used too often | $5 to $15 |
Abrasive toothpastes | Moderate | Can cause enamel removal if used too often | $3 to $10 |
Bleaching strips | High | Can cause tooth sensitivity due to enamel damage | $20 |
Paint-on bleach | High | Can cause tooth sensitivity due to enamel damage | $30 |
Dentist-supplied at-home kits | High | Can cause tooth sensitivity, but your dentist can supervise and ensure you’re using this product properly | $100+ |
In-office tooth bleaching | High | Can cause tooth sensitivity, but your dentist will supervise the process | $300+ |
Toothpastes
Toothpastes that promise to brighten your smile do so in one of two ways: bleaching or abrasives. Many of these products also contain fluoride, so they can harden your enamel while brightening your smile. In head-to-head studies, researchers found that products with abrasives and bleaches were equally effective in whitening teeth.
Studies cited by the American Dental Association suggest that these products aren’t as effective as other over-the-counter options such as paint-on gels and whitening strips.
OTC bleach products
Pharmacies and grocery stores often sell other products that promise to brighten your smile. They include paint-on gels and strips. The American Dental Association explains that these products typically use peroxide to bleach teeth.
Researchers say that indiscriminate use of strips like this can lead to tooth sensitivity and irritated gums. Working with a dentist or professional dental company is a better option, as a professional can ensure you’re using the products properly.
Professional options
Dentists can provide bleaching products their patients can use at home, and they can provide therapies that brighten your teeth in an in-office treatment. In one study, researchers found that at-home products were more effective in whitening teeth, and those products caused smaller changes in tooth sensitivity.
Other ways to brighten your smile
The internet is filled with articles about how to brighten your smile with natural products. From baking soda to vinegar to lemon juice, people are looking for ways to make their whites bright without getting an expert's help. The American Dental Association recommends these at-home tooth-whitening steps:
Brush your teeth. Aim for a 2-minute brushing session twice every day.
Choose the right product. A whitening toothpaste can be helpful.
Floss your teeth. Carefully floss between your teeth every day to remove trapped food and reduce decay.
Avoid stains. Don't smoke, and limit your intake of coffee, tea, and red wine.
Visit your dentist. Regular cleanings could stop plaque from building, and that could keep your teeth whiter.
But if these steps don't help, a dentist might have a good solution. For example, if you're working with a dental expert on straighter teeth, you could have the tools you need in your home. Teeth aligners slide onto your teeth and gently push them into proper positions. They also cover your teeth from root to tip. Filling those trays with a whitening solution could help you bleach out impurities and whiten your smile as you straighten your teeth.
It's critical to stick to products your team recommends. Some over-the-counter products can harm your aligners. But if your team gives you a whitening product, this could be just what you need to make your teeth whiter safely.