I've actually found baking soda to be a bit tricky—it's easy to underestimate how abrasive it can be, even if you're careful. Personally, I prefer activated charcoal toothpaste instead. It's less gritty and I've noticed decent short-term brightening effects without the sensitivity issues I sometimes got from baking soda. Might be worth checking out if texture is a concern for you...
I've tried activated charcoal toothpaste too, and yeah, it's definitely gentler than baking soda. But honestly, I didn't see much difference in brightness myself—maybe my teeth are just stubborn, lol. Recently started using a whitening mouthwash before bed, and surprisingly, it seems to help a bit overnight without any gritty feeling or sensitivity. Might be another easy option if you're looking for something quick and gentle...
I've heard mixed things about whitening mouthwash—some swear by it, others say it's just minty water, lol. Curious, do you think it's actually whitening or just temporarily masking stains somehow? Might give it a shot anyway...
"I've heard mixed things about whitening mouthwash—some swear by it, others say it's just minty water, lol."
Haha, honestly, that's exactly how I felt when I first tried whitening mouthwash. I've been using braces for a while now, and keeping my teeth bright has been a bit of a struggle (coffee lover here, guilty as charged...). Anyway, I gave whitening mouthwash a shot, and here's my two cents:
It definitely freshens your breath and makes your mouth feel super clean, but as far as actual whitening goes... eh, it's subtle at best. I think it mostly helps prevent new stains rather than removing existing ones. Like, if you've just had coffee or tea, swishing with whitening mouthwash afterward might stop stains from setting in as deeply. But if you're looking for dramatic overnight results, you might be disappointed.
One thing I've noticed is that pairing it with a whitening toothpaste seems to boost the effect a bit. Nothing drastic, but enough to notice a slight improvement over time. Also, I've found that brushing gently with baking soda once in a while (not too often though, since it can be abrasive) helps brighten things up noticeably quicker.
So yeah, I'd say go ahead and try the mouthwash if you're curious—it's not gonna hurt anything, and at the very least you'll have minty fresh breath. Just don't expect miracles overnight. Teeth whitening is usually more of a gradual process anyway... patience is key.
Haha, your experience pretty much matches mine. I remember when I first got braces, I was determined to keep my teeth as white as possible. Coffee addiction didn't help, obviously... but hey, priorities, right?
Anyway, I tried whitening mouthwash too, and yeah, it mostly just made my mouth feel minty fresh. Didn't notice any dramatic whitening effect either. But one thing that did help me was using those whitening strips occasionally—like the gentle ones meant for sensitive teeth. They're not exactly overnight miracles either, but after a couple of uses, I definitely saw a difference.
Funny story though—one night before a big event, I panicked and googled "overnight teeth whitening hacks" (as one does at 2 AM). Ended up trying the strawberry-and-baking-soda trick because it sounded harmless enough. Honestly? It tasted weird and made a mess in the sink, but my teeth actually did look slightly brighter the next morning. Could've been placebo or wishful thinking though, lol.
Has anyone else tried any of those DIY fruit-based hacks? I'm still kinda skeptical if they're legit or just internet myths...
