I hear you on the baking soda thing—it left my mouth feeling weird too, almost gritty, and I was worried about the enamel long-term. I actually tried coconut oil pulling for a few weeks. Honestly, it made my teeth feel smoother but I didn’t notice a big difference in color. Maybe just a touch brighter? Hard to say. I think it’s more about the clean feeling than actual whitening.
I ended up switching to a sensitive toothpaste with potassium nitrate and just being really gentle with my brushing, especially around the brackets. That helped with the sensitivity and didn’t make my gums freak out. Sometimes I’ll use a tiny bit of peroxide gel (the kind made for trays, not straight-up liquid) once a week, and that seems to control stains without making things worse.
Honestly, I’d be careful with any DIY stuff if you’re already sensitive. For me, less was more. And sometimes those stains just hang on until the braces come off... frustrating, but true.
Honestly, I’d be careful with any DIY stuff if you’re already sensitive. For me, less was more.
Right there with you—baking soda can feel like scrubbing your teeth with sandpaper, and the enamel doesn’t exactly grow back. I get a lot of patients asking about oil pulling too. It’s not going to bleach your teeth, but if you like that slick feeling, go for it. Peroxide gel once a week sounds smart; just don’t go overboard or you’ll end up with teeth that light up like headlights but scream when you drink cold water. Anyone else notice those “miracle” hacks usually just leave you with a sore mouth?
Totally get where you're coming from with the baking soda—it’s way harsher than people think. I’ve seen a lot of folks try it and end up with more sensitivity than they started with. Oil pulling’s harmless enough if you like the way it feels, but yeah, it’s not going to magically whiten anything. Honestly, most of those “miracle” hacks seem to do more harm than good, especially if your teeth are already sensitive.
Peroxide gels can work, but moderation is key. Seen too many cases where people go all-in and then can’t even sip ice water without flinching. I always tell people: slow and steady wins the race when it comes to whitening. Sometimes less really is more—protecting your enamel is way more important in the long run than getting a few extra shades whiter.
Sometimes less really is more—protecting your enamel is way more important in the long run than getting a few extra shades whiter.
Couldn’t agree more with this. I tried the baking soda thing a couple years back—thought I was being clever, saving money and all that. Ended up with teeth that felt like they’d been sandblasted. My dentist actually winced when I told him what I’d been up to. It’s wild how something that seems so harmless can actually rough up your enamel if you’re not careful.
Coconut oil, on the other hand... I gave oil pulling a shot during lockdown (boredom will do that). Didn’t notice any whitening, but my mouth did feel cleaner? Maybe it was just all the swishing. Honestly, it’s not going to give you a Hollywood smile, but at least it doesn’t leave your teeth feeling like you’ve chewed on a pumice stone.
Peroxide gels are the only DIY thing that’s ever worked for me, but moderation is everything. One time I got impatient and used them every night for a week straight. Regretted it big time—couldn’t even look at ice cream without my teeth aching. Now I just stick to the “once in a while” approach and use a sensitive toothpaste in between. Works well enough, and I can still enjoy cold drinks without wanting to cry.
If you’re after real whitening, honestly, nothing beats chatting with your dentist first. They’ll steer you clear of the hacks that end up costing you more in dental bills down the line. I learned that lesson the hard way... twice.
I’ve been down the baking soda rabbit hole too—back in my “DIY everything” phase. It’s funny how everyone swears it’s gentle, but my teeth felt gritty for days and I swear my gums weren’t thrilled either. My hygienist gave me that look... you know, the “please don’t make my job harder” look. Lesson learned.
Coconut oil is a different beast. Tried oil pulling after a friend raved about it. I didn’t see much difference in color, but my mouth did feel fresher. Maybe it’s just the 20 minutes of swishing—felt more like a jaw workout than anything. Not sure I’d stick with it long-term, but at least it didn’t make things worse.
Honestly, I get the appeal of home remedies, but after a couple of misadventures, I’m with you—talking to the dentist first saves a lot of regret (and money). Whitening’s nice, but I’d rather keep my teeth than chase a shade chart.
