Okay, I've been trying to get my teeth a bit brighter without spending a fortune at the dentist. So far, I've mixed baking soda and hydrogen peroxide into a paste (just a tiny bit of peroxide, you know, don't wanna overdo it). Brush gently with that for about 2 mins every few days. Seems to be working pretty good actually, but I'm wondering if anyone has tried something else that's maybe quicker or gentler on enamel?
"Seems to be working pretty good actually, but I'm wondering if anyone has tried something else that's maybe quicker or gentler on enamel?"
I've done the baking soda and peroxide thing too—worked alright, but my dentist gave me a gentle nudge about enamel wear. She suggested trying activated charcoal toothpaste instead. Honestly, I was skeptical (brushing with black paste to whiten teeth...really?), but after a couple weeks, I noticed a subtle difference without any sensitivity. Might be worth a shot if you're looking for something gentler.
I've tried the charcoal toothpaste too, and yeah, it does feel weird brushing with something that looks like it belongs in a BBQ pit, lol. It worked okay for me, but honestly, I got tired of cleaning black splatters off my sink every morning. My dentist recommended switching to one of those enamel-safe whitening toothpastes instead—nothing fancy or expensive, just regular drugstore stuff. Took a bit longer to notice results compared to peroxide or charcoal, but after about a month my teeth definitely looked brighter without any sensitivity issues.
Also, random tip: cutting back on coffee (painful, I know...) or drinking it through a straw really helps keep stains away. Not exactly groundbreaking advice, but hey, every little bit counts when you're trying to keep your teeth from looking like corn kernels 😅
"cutting back on coffee (painful, I know...) or drinking it through a straw really helps keep stains away."
Haha, totally relate to this. I tried the straw thing for a while but honestly felt kinda silly sipping hot coffee through plastic...plus it didn't taste quite right. Eventually, I just started rinsing my mouth with water after finishing my cup—seems to help a bit without sacrificing that morning ritual. Curious if anyone's tried those whitening mouthwashes? I've heard mixed things about whether they're actually effective or just overpriced minty water.
Eventually, I just started rinsing my mouth with water after finishing my cup—seems to help a bit without sacrificing that morning ritual. Curious if anyone's tried those whitening mouthwashes?
I've tried some of those whitening mouthwashes before...not sure if they did much, honestly. Felt like most of the effect was just temporary freshness rather than actual whitening. My dentist once mentioned they're pretty mild, so if your stains are stubborn, they might not do enough.
I get anxious about enamel damage too, so I've always been cautious about DIY methods. The baking soda and peroxide paste does sound effective, but I'd probably worry about using it too often. I heard somewhere that peroxide can be rough on your gums if you're sensitive (like I am). Maybe spacing it out even more might help?
Also agree with the coffee thing—I tried cutting back, but mornings were just miserable. Now I just rinse my mouth after drinking it, like someone else mentioned earlier. Feels a bit safer than brushing right after coffee, since apparently brushing immediately can rub stains deeper into the enamel or something... I dunno, read that somewhere online.
Anyway, I'm considering just biting the bullet and asking my dentist next visit if there's a safe home method they'd recommend. Teeth stuff stresses me out a bit so I'd prefer getting professional input before trying anything new again.
