Couldn’t agree more about waiting on whitening until the braces are off—seen too many cases of those little “squares” you mentioned, and it’s tough to fix after the fact. Coconut oil is gentle, but honestly, I haven’t seen much real whitening from it in practice. Baking soda can be risky, especially for folks with sensitive gums or enamel. Honestly, sticking with a mild toothpaste and good brushing habits during braces is safest. Whitening can always wait until everything’s off and you can see what you’re working with.
Baking soda vs. coconut oil: which one actually works for a whiter smile?
We’re in the thick of braces with my daughter right now, so I’ve gone down this rabbit hole a few times. Here’s what I’ve noticed after way too many late-night Google sessions and a couple of chats with our ortho:
Step one, I got tempted by the coconut oil trend—seems safe, right? She tried “oil pulling” for a week (which, by the way, is not fun for a 13-year-old). Honestly, her teeth looked exactly the same, but her breath was a bit fresher. Not sure if that’s worth the mess and the “ick” factor.
Baking soda is where I got nervous. I know it’s in some toothpastes, but straight-up baking soda always felt too harsh. My cousin did it during her braces phase and ended up with really sensitive teeth. The orthodontist basically said, “Please don’t.” Apparently, it can wear down enamel, especially if you’re not careful, and with all that metal in there...no thanks.
I get wanting to do something, though. Those little squares you mentioned haunt me every time we go for an adjustment. But I figure it’s better to play it safe and just keep up with regular brushing (we do an electric toothbrush and a water flosser—game changer for brackets). Our ortho said any whitening before the braces come off is a gamble since you can’t get under the brackets anyway. You might end up with polka-dot teeth for a while.
I do wish there was a magic fix for keeping everything looking fresh during braces, but for now we’re sticking to the basics. Once those brackets come off, we’ll reassess—maybe professional whitening if she wants it. Until then, I’d rather deal with a little dullness than risk permanent spots or sensitivity.
If anyone’s actually seen results from coconut oil (other than shinier lips), I’m all ears...but for us, it was just a lot of effort for not much payoff.
Once those brackets come off, we’ll reassess—maybe professional whitening if she wants it. Until then, I’d rather deal with a little dullness than risk permanent spots or sensitivity.
Totally get this. We’re on a super tight budget and honestly, the cost of fixing enamel damage later would be way more than just waiting it out now. My kiddo hated the coconut oil thing too—she gagged every time. Regular brushing and saving up for a proper whitening later seems like the safest (and cheapest) bet. Hang in there...the braces phase feels endless but you’re doing all the right things.
Yeah, I remember trying both baking soda and coconut oil when my braces came off years ago. Honestly, the coconut oil thing was just gross for me—couldn’t get past the texture. Baking soda worked a bit, but I had to be super careful not to overdo it since my teeth felt sensitive after. Like you said, waiting it out and doing professional whitening later made way more sense in the long run. The dullness is temporary, but enamel damage isn’t...
I totally get what you mean about the coconut oil—it’s just not for everyone. When you tried baking soda, did you notice any change in sensitivity over time, or did it stay the same? I’ve heard some folks say their teeth adjust, but mine always felt a bit raw after. Curious if you ever found a gentler DIY option, or was it just a waiting game until the pro whitening?
