"Also, has anyone tried oil pulling? I've seen it pop up everywhere lately, but swishing coconut oil around for 20 minutes sounds... intense."
I totally get your hesitation about oil pulling—I gave it a shot a few months ago, and honestly, the texture was a bit much for me. Swishing oil around for that long felt pretty strange at first, but I did notice my mouth felt cleaner afterward. As for whitening, though... I didn't see any dramatic difference, just maybe a subtle brightness after doing it consistently for a couple weeks.
Regarding baking soda, I've mixed a tiny pinch (definitely less than pea-sized) with toothpaste occasionally. It doesn't taste gritty if you mix it well, but it can be slightly salty. Nothing unbearable, though—just rinse thoroughly afterward. Given your sensitivity to whitening strips (been there myself—ouch), I'd suggest starting really small and seeing how your teeth react.
Has anyone here tried those gentle whitening toothpastes specifically designed for sensitive teeth? I've been curious if they're actually effective or just marketing hype...
I've actually had pretty good luck with those sensitive whitening toothpastes. Been using one for about six months now, and while it's not a dramatic overnight change, my teeth definitely look brighter without any sensitivity issues. Oil pulling never really appealed to me—20 minutes is just too long, and honestly, regular brushing and flossing seem to do the trick just fine... at least for me.
I've tried oil pulling too, and yeah, 20 minutes felt like forever... just couldn't stick with it. But one thing that's worked well for me when I want a quick brightness boost is brushing gently with baking soda once in a while. I just wet my toothbrush, dip it lightly in baking soda, and brush carefully for about a minute. Definitely not an everyday thing—can be abrasive if overdone—but it's a handy trick when you need a little extra brightness by morning.
