"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.
"20 minutes felt like forever... just couldn't stick with it."
Haha, I feel you on that! Tried oil pulling myself, and honestly, juggling kids and morning chaos makes those 20 minutes impossible. Your baking soda tip is solid though—I’ve done something similar now and then. One thing my dentist suggested, especially for quick brightening before special occasions, was using a whitening toothpaste but leaving it on your teeth for a couple of minutes before rinsing. Just brush normally, then let it sit while you comb your hair or pick out an outfit. It’s gentle enough to not cause sensitivity but gives that subtle boost when you're short on time. And yeah, baking soda is great occasionally, but I’ve heard the same caution about abrasiveness if overused. Good reminder to keep it balanced!
I totally get what you're saying about the oil pulling thing—tried it once and thought I'd lose my mind waiting those 20 mins out. Who has that kind of patience, especially in the morning rush with kids?
"Just brush normally, then let it sit while you comb your hair or pick out an outfit."
I've actually done something similar, but I always get nervous leaving toothpaste sitting on my teeth too long. Anyone else worry about enamel issues or sensitivity from doing that regularly? My dentist mentioned a whitening mouthwash you swish around for just a minute or so—seems easier to fit into the morning chaos. I've used it a few times before events, and it does seem to help a bit without making my teeth feel sensitive later. Still cautious about using anything whitening too often though... don't want to cause more harm than good.
