Yeah, baking soda can be tricky—it's effective at removing surface stains, but it's definitely abrasive if you're not careful. I've seen a lot of people overdo it and end up with sensitivity issues. Personally, I stick to toothpaste with fluoride and occasionally use whitening strips recommended by my dentist. They're gentler on enamel and still get decent results. If sensitivity persists, you might wanna ask your dentist about fluoride treatments—they've helped me a ton.
Totally agree with you about baking soda. I used it a while back because everyone was raving about how natural and effective it was, but man... my teeth got super sensitive after just a couple of weeks. I guess I wasn't careful enough or something. Anyway, I switched to a fluoride toothpaste too, and it definitely helped calm things down.
I've never tried whitening strips though—always been a bit hesitant since my teeth are already sensitive. But hearing your experience makes me feel better about maybe giving them a shot sometime. Fluoride treatments sound interesting too; my dentist mentioned them briefly last visit but I wasn't sure if they'd really make much difference. Good to hear they've worked well for you, might have to revisit that conversation next appointment. Thanks for sharing your tips, it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one who's struggled with sensitivity issues from DIY whitening methods!
I get why whitening strips seem tempting, but honestly, they didn't work out great for me. My teeth were already sensitive, and even the "gentle" ones made things worse after a few days. Weirdly enough, oil pulling with coconut oil was gentler and actually helped brighten my teeth a bit. Might sound kinda hippie-ish, but it worked better for me than strips or baking soda ever did. Could be worth a shot if you're still hesitant about the strips...
Totally get where you're coming from with the sensitivity issue... whitening strips made my teeth ache too. Haven't tried oil pulling yet, but honestly, hearing your experience makes me feel a bit more hopeful about giving it a shot. Thanks for sharing!
I've been curious about oil pulling too, but honestly, I'm a bit nervous to try anything new after my last whitening disaster. I remember sitting in class after using whitening gel the night before, and suddenly feeling this sharp, shooting pain out of nowhere—talk about embarrassing. Does anyone know if oil pulling has any weird side effects or sensitivities? Just trying to mentally prepare myself before diving in...
