I’ve obsessed over tiny chips in my teeth that nobody even noticed.
You’re definitely not alone there. It’s wild how we zero in on every little thing, but most people don’t see any of it. I hear about this all the time—folks coming in worried about a spot or a chip, and honestly, I usually have to look pretty hard to find what they’re talking about.
About the strips, yeah, sensitivity is super common. Did you get that zinging feeling with hot or cold stuff? Sometimes it’s just for a couple days, but for some people it lingers. The uneven color happens a lot too, especially if the strips don’t cover perfectly or if your teeth have natural shade differences. It’s frustrating, but almost always way less obvious to everyone else.
If it helps, I’ve had patients point out “disasters” that I could barely see, even up close. We’re usually much harsher on ourselves than anyone else would be. Give yourself some credit—nobody’s teeth are perfect, and most people are way too focused on their own stuff to notice ours.
We’re usually much harsher on ourselves than anyone else would be. Give yourself some credit—nobody’s teeth are perfect, and most people are way too focused on their own stuff to notice ours.
I get what you’re saying, but honestly, sometimes it’s not just in our heads. After my last whitening attempt, I felt like the patchiness was all I could see in photos. Friends said they didn’t notice, but I swear it changed how I smiled for a while. Maybe we do overthink it, but the feeling is still real, you know?
I totally get where you’re coming from. After I tried one of those over-the-counter whitening kits a few years back, my teeth looked weirdly streaky for weeks. It messed with my confidence way more than I expected—smiling in photos felt awkward, and I caught myself hiding my teeth without even realizing it. Even if others don’t notice, the self-consciousness is real. But honestly, after a bit, the patchiness faded and I stopped fixating on it. It’s rough in the moment, but I promise it gets easier to brush off (pun intended).
That streaky look is exactly what happened to me after I used whitening strips during my braces treatment—except the spots stuck around longer because the brackets blocked some areas. Did you ever try seeing a dentist about it, or did you just let it fade on its own? I debated getting a professional cleaning but chickened out since my teeth were already sensitive.
That streaky effect is pretty common with whitening during braces—I've read it happens because the strips can't reach under the brackets, so you end up with uneven color. When I had something similar after my own braces, I waited a while to see if things would even out naturally (they did... eventually), but I also tried using a remineralizing toothpaste. It helped with sensitivity and seemed to speed up fading of the spots. Did you notice if your teeth got less sensitive over time, or did that stick around too?
