Yeah, charcoal toothpaste was a total bust for me too—felt like I spent more time scrubbing the sink than my teeth, lol. Fluoride rinses can be decent, but have you guys tried a good whitening gel with custom trays? I was skeptical at first... seemed kinda fussy. But honestly, it's been the only thing that's given me pro-level results without constant dentist visits. Definitely less messy than charcoal anyway.
I've thought about custom trays, but honestly, the cost always makes me hesitate. I mean, charcoal toothpaste was messy and didn't do much for me either, but at least it was cheap enough to try without feeling guilty afterward, haha. Are the gels and trays really worth the investment? I'm always a bit wary of spending too much on dental stuff without knowing it'll actually work...
I totally get the hesitation—been there myself. I tried charcoal toothpaste too, and honestly, it felt like brushing with crushed Oreos...minus the tasty part. 😂 Anyway, about the trays and gels, I finally bit the bullet last year after a friend kept raving about them. Went for an affordable kit online (not the dentist's custom trays, those were way outta my budget). Surprisingly, they actually worked pretty well. Not Hollywood-level white, but definitely noticeable improvement without breaking the bank. Just gotta be consistent and patient. If you're still unsure, maybe start with one of those cheaper kits first? At least then if it doesn't work, you won't feel like your wallet got mugged.
"Just gotta be consistent and patient."
Exactly this. Consistency is key. Also, quick tip—avoid coffee or dark drinks right after whitening sessions... learned that the hard way. Otherwise, you're basically undoing all that effort.
"avoid coffee or dark drinks right after whitening sessions..."
Yeah, I get the logic, but honestly... life's too short to skip my morning coffee. I just use a straw now—problem solved. Sure, it looks ridiculous sipping hot coffee through a straw, but hey, priorities. Plus, haven't noticed any major setbacks yet. Maybe I'm just lucky?
