I've been seeing a ton of DIY whitening hacks lately, and two seem to pop up everywhere: baking soda and activated charcoal. I've tried baking soda a couple times—felt kinda gritty but I did notice a lil difference. Haven't tried charcoal yet, but some friends swear by it, even though the black mess looks kinda scary, haha. Curious if anyone's tried both and has a preference or noticed one working better than the other?
"Haven't tried charcoal yet, but some friends swear by it, even though the black mess looks kinda scary, haha."
Haha, I totally get your hesitation with the charcoal mess...been there, done that! I gave activated charcoal a shot a few months back because I kept seeing those Instagram ads and thought, "Why not?" Honestly, my sink looked like a crime scene every single time. 😂 It took a bit of scrubbing to clean up afterward, and I had to be extra careful not to drip onto my clothes.
As for results, I did notice some brightening after about two weeks of using it every other day. But here's the thing—my dentist gently advised me not to overdo it. Apparently, charcoal is pretty abrasive and can wear down enamel over time if used too often or too vigorously. So, moderation is key.
I've also tried baking soda in the past and had similar experiences as you described—definitely gritty but did see a slight improvement. Between the two, I'd say baking soda felt gentler overall. Plus, it's a lot easier to manage since you're not dealing with black splatters everywhere. 😅
In the end though, nothing really beats regular brushing, flossing, and occasional professional cleanings. DIY methods can give you a quick boost now and then, but it's best not to rely on them as your go-to long-term solution. If you're curious about charcoal though, maybe just try it once or twice a week at first and see how your teeth feel afterward. Just be gentle!
Good luck experimenting—I know how tempting those DIY hacks can be!
I had a similar experience with charcoal...tried it exactly once and decided it wasn't worth the cleanup, lol. My kid walked in halfway through and thought I'd turned into a zombie or something 😂.
Honestly, baking soda has been my go-to for quick brightening. It's cheap, easy, and way less messy. I usually just sprinkle a tiny bit onto my toothpaste once or twice a week—nothing fancy. It does feel gritty, but if you're gentle and don't scrub too hard, it's pretty safe. My dentist said the same thing about charcoal being abrasive, so I'm guessing moderation applies to baking soda too.
But yeah, totally agree that nothing beats regular brushing and flossing. DIY stuff is fun to experiment with occasionally, but I wouldn't rely on it long-term. Learned that the hard way after trying every Pinterest hack out there...lesson learned, haha.
