When you search for natural dental trends online, you’ll find recommendations from baking soda, to different oils and beyond.

Baking soda

Baking soda is a mildly abrasive powder which has been used for generations to clean and whiten teeth. Its texture can effectively remove surface stains from your teeth and make them seem whiter. Some apply it as a powder directly to the teeth, while others make a paste with baking soda and water. Some people even mix the baking soda with lemon, but most dentists will recommend that you stay away from lemon juice and other citrus fruits as teeth whiteners. The 'whitening agent' is actually citric acid, which will wear away your enamel. Check with your dentist on whether it's a good idea to try any of the methods. Keeping your dentist in the loop will allow you to use the baking soda safely. You may notice that it helps remove mild plaque buildup, but because baking soda is abrasive, it can cause harm to your teeth if you use it too frequently, brush with it too vigorously or apply it to an already damaged tooth.

Olive, Coconut, Sunflower and Sesame Oil

Oil pulling is an ancient dental technique which comes from Ayurveda, India's traditional medicine system. The ancient practice started trending in the U.S. during the 2010s when celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Shailene Woodley sung its praises after including it in their dental, beauty and wellness routines. Believing that it extracts toxins and reduces inflammation throughout the body, practitioners of oil pulling also claim it helps treat and prevent conditions such as migraines, acne, asthma and diabetes. Additionally, people who use oil pulling regularly testify to how the process cleans and whitens your teeth, freshens your breath and keeps your gums healthy.

Take a small amount of sesame, sunflower, coconut or olive oil and swish it around in your mouth for 20 minutes. This swishing action allows components within the oil to bind with bacteria and toxins in your saliva. After 20 minutes, spit out the oil in a paper towel or a disposable cup so that it can be disposed of. Avoid throwing it down the sink or the toilet because the oil can cause plumbing problems.

The American Dental Association (ADA) currently doesn't recommend oil pulling. Although many practitioners of oil pulling report that it reduces plaque buildup, whitens teeth and helps prevent gingivitis, U.S. dental researchers say that more studies must be conducted to support these claims.

Even some mainstream dental healthcare providers who are skeptical about oil pulling recognize that the technique may have some cleansing benefits. Just swishing water around for several minutes is going to clean out your mouth due to the mechanical movement involved. Additionally, using oil pulling on a consistent basis is one way of paying attention to your oral health. Developing mindfulness about what's going on inside your mouth is beneficial when the daily stresses of life make it tempting to forget about our oral health care.

Most practitioners see little to no harm in oil pulling, as long as it's done in addition to your regular dental care routine (never as a replacement). Perform the oil pulling first, and then brush, floss and rinse with a fluoride mouth rinse as normally advised. If you accidentally swallow the oil, you may get a temporary case of diarrhea or an upset stomach.

Activated Charcoal

Using activated charcoal in toothpaste or powder form has recently been a very popular natural trend. Some claim that it keeps your mouth clean while brightening your teeth. Activated charcoal is a fine black powder generally grounded with a combination of charcoal, coconut shell, olive pits, sawdust, bone char and other materials. The powder is then heated at a high temperature thus making it more porous, also known as “activated.”

Natural cleaning and whitening products with activated charcoal became popular toward the end of the 20th century. However, activated charcoal's medical benefits have been recognized for more than a century. It was first used medically in 1834 when a doctor administered it to save the life of a patient who was dying from mercury poisoning. Nowadays, it's available in a powder or a tooth paste as a natural way to whiten your teeth.

However, like baking soda, charcoal is abrasive even in a paste or powder. If you have cracks or other weaknesses in your enamel or your overall tooth, this product may not be for you. Check with your dentist first and see if they recommend activated charcoal whitening as a supplement to your daily dental routine. Dentists who combine holistic and mainstream dentistry will know which activated charcoal products to recommend, the best procedures for using them and whether you would benefit more from a paste or a powder.

A final note on using activated charcoal as a teeth-whitening technique: The ADA does not yet recommend its use due its abrasive nature and the lack of evidence supporting its benefits. Most dentists who recommend it as a supplement will advise you to use it only a couple of times a week -- in addition to your regular oral care routine and bi-yearly dental checkups.

Clay products

The concept of using natural tooth-cleaning and whitening products that list clay as the main ingredient are trending as well. They're known to have the same benefits and concerns that come with using charcoal-based dental whiteners and cleaners, so check with your dentist to see if this is a safe option for you-- and if they have a specific brand in mind which they feel confident about.