Haha, whitening strips are great, but my wallet cries every time I buy them. I've been using baking soda mixed with my toothpaste once or twice a week—cheap and surprisingly effective. Just don't go overboard or you'll scrub your enamel off (lesson learned the hard way...). Also, cutting back on coffee helped me more than anything. Sad but true.
Good call on the baking soda—it's a solid DIY option as long as you're careful. You're right about enamel damage; moderation is key. Another thing you might try is rinsing with water right after coffee or tea. I started doing that, and it helped keep stains from setting in too badly. Still, cutting back on coffee definitely makes the biggest difference... painful but effective, haha. Glad you're feeling good about your smile again, that's awesome.
I've tried the baking soda route too, and honestly, it worked pretty well—until my dentist gave me the side-eye at my checkup, haha. Now I just rinse after coffee and occasionally use those cheaper whitening strips. Not perfect, but keeps me smiling without breaking the bank.
"Now I just rinse after coffee and occasionally use those cheaper whitening strips. Not perfect, but keeps me smiling without breaking the bank."
Haha, I feel you on the dentist side-eye! My kiddo went through a phase of wanting super white teeth for school pictures, so we tried those whitening strips too. They did the job, but honestly, they made his teeth pretty sensitive afterward. Eventually, our dentist suggested just sticking to a whitening toothpaste and cutting back on staining drinks (easier said than done with a teenager who loves soda...). Surprisingly, after a few months, his teeth looked just as good without the sensitivity issues. Might not be as quick as the strips, but it's cheaper and gentler in the long run. Just something to consider if you start noticing any sensitivity creeping in.
I totally get the sensitivity thing. I tried whitening strips once before a friend's wedding, and while they definitely brightened things up, my teeth felt weirdly sensitive for days afterward. Eating ice cream was suddenly torture, lol. My dentist actually recommended trying activated charcoal toothpaste instead. I was skeptical at first (brushing with black paste seemed counterintuitive), but after a few weeks, I noticed a subtle improvement without any sensitivity issues. It's not as dramatic or fast as the strips, but it's gentle enough that I don't worry about damaging anything long-term. Might be worth checking out if you're ever looking for something different...though fair warning, it can get a bit messy in the sink!
