Baking soda’s kind of a toss-up for me. It does lift stains, but I always wonder if I’m just wearing down enamel in the process. Have you noticed any roughness or sensitivity after using it? I stick with fluoride too, mostly out of caution.
I’ve actually wondered the same thing about baking soda, especially after I noticed my teeth felt a bit gritty once. Didn’t get any sensitivity, but it did make me pause. Have you tried using it with an electric brush? I switched to electric last year, and honestly, my teeth feel cleaner, but I’m not sure it’s made them whiter. Maybe it’s more about technique than what’s on the brush...
Maybe it’s more about technique than what’s on the brush...
I couldn’t agree more with that. I started using an electric brush after my hygienist recommended it—she said it would help with my arthritis, but honestly, I stuck with it because my teeth always feel polished after. Cleaner, yes. But whiter? That’s a stretch. I think a lot of folks expect a “Hollywood” smile just from switching brushes, but in my experience, it takes more than that. Technique really does matter. I had years where I brushed too hard and actually wore down some enamel—manual or electric, you’ve got to be gentle.
As for baking soda, I tried it once or twice and didn’t love the gritty feeling either. Didn’t notice any sensitivity, but the texture was off-putting. I’d much rather stick to a regular toothpaste and focus on thorough brushing, flossing, and maybe the occasional whitening strip if I’m feeling fancy. The electric brush is just one piece of the puzzle... not a magic fix.
Yeah, I switched to an electric brush hoping for a brighter smile too—didn’t really see much difference in color, just felt cleaner. Maybe it helps a bit with stains, but whitening strips did way more for me. Technique wins over fancy gadgets, in my book.
I totally get what you mean about feeling cleaner but not really seeing a whiter smile. When I first switched to an electric brush, I was hoping for that “wow” effect too, and honestly, it just made my teeth feel smoother. I’m super anxious about stains, so I started obsessing over technique—turns out, brushing gently and hitting every spot made more difference than the brush itself. Whitening strips made me nervous (sensitive teeth), but they did work better for color. Maybe it’s just about finding what combo works without stressing too much over the gadgets...