Tried both baking soda and coconut oil for teeth whitening, but honestly can't tell which is better. Baking soda feels kinda gritty and leaves my mouth super fresh, but coconut oil (like oil pulling) is supposed to help too, though it tastes... weird? Anyone else have luck with either of these? Which one would you pick and why?
Baking soda all the way for me, but maybe that's just because coconut oil makes me feel like I'm chewing on sunscreen. The gritty feeling from baking soda is weird at first, but I kinda like how clean my teeth feel after. My orthodontist said not to go overboard with it though—apparently too much can mess with your enamel. Oil pulling just felt like a chore and honestly, I didn't notice much difference except my jaw getting tired. Anyone else feel like this stuff is more about vibes than actual results?
Oil pulling just felt like a chore and honestly, I didn't notice much difference except my jaw getting tired.
Same here. Tried oil pulling for a couple weeks, but honestly, the only thing that changed was my patience level—got tired of swishing way before I noticed anything with my teeth. Baking soda’s been my go-to when I want a little extra clean. Totally get what you mean about the gritty feeling; it’s weird at first but then it just feels like your teeth are actually getting scrubbed.
But yeah, my orthodontist warned me too about overdoing it. Apparently, enamel doesn’t grow back, so I just use it once in a while if I’ve had coffee or something staining. Haven’t really noticed a huge difference in whiteness, but my mouth feels fresher for sure.
Coconut oil just isn’t for me either—can’t get past the texture. At this point, I feel like most of these “natural” things are more about routine than real results. Regular brushing and checkups have done more for me than any of these trends, honestly.
At this point, I feel like most of these “natural” things are more about routine than real results. Regular brushing and checkups have done more for me than any of these trends, honestly.
Honestly, you’re spot on. Oil pulling and baking soda both get hyped, but the basics—brushing, flossing, and seeing your dentist—really do the heavy lifting. Baking soda can help a bit with surface stains if you use it sparingly, but too much will wear down enamel over time. If your mouth feels fresher, that’s a win, but dramatic whitening is pretty rare with home stuff like this. Don’t stress about skipping the trends if they don’t work for you.
Baking soda can help a bit with surface stains if you use it sparingly, but too much will wear down enamel over time.
Honestly, I get why people keep looking for an easy at-home fix—who doesn’t want whiter teeth without dropping a bunch of money at the dentist? I’ve seen a lot of folks try both baking soda and coconut oil, and honestly, the results are all over the place. Baking soda can definitely give you that cleaner feeling (I think it’s because it’s mildly abrasive), but that gritty texture is not for everyone. A lot of my friends have said their mouths feel fresher after using it, but if you use it too often, it can start to wear down enamel, especially if you already brush hard or have sensitive teeth.
Coconut oil pulling is one of those things that sounds weird at first—I tried it a few times and couldn’t get past the texture. Some people swear by it for making their teeth feel cleaner, but I haven’t seen much real whitening from it. There’s just not a ton of solid evidence that it actually removes stains beyond what regular brushing does. The taste is… yeah, not great unless you’re into coconut everything.
One thing I’ve noticed: sometimes we forget how much things like coffee, tea, and red wine add up over time. Even with these “natural” hacks, staining just keeps coming back if you’re drinking those every day. I’ll admit, after trying all sorts of stuff in college (including those sketchy charcoal powders), I ended up just sticking to regular toothpaste and whitening strips now and then. My dentist told me to be careful with anything abrasive or super trendy because enamel doesn’t grow back.
If you’re happy with how your mouth feels after baking soda or coconut oil, cool—but if you’re hoping for a big change in shade… probably not gonna happen. For me, a good electric toothbrush made more difference than any DIY trick ever did.
