I've given activated charcoal toothpaste a shot myself, mostly because it was on sale and curiosity got the better of me. Honestly, I did notice some subtle brightening after the first couple of uses, but I was careful not to overdo it because I'd heard the same about abrasiveness. For occasional use, I'd say it could be worth trying—just don't expect dramatic results overnight. Baking soda toothpaste seems gentler to me and definitely cheaper...so that's still my go-to for quick fixes.
"Baking soda toothpaste seems gentler to me and definitely cheaper...so that's still my go-to for quick fixes."
I've tried baking soda toothpaste too, but honestly, it always left my gums feeling a bit sensitive afterward. Maybe it's just me being overly cautious (first-time dental anxiety kicking in here), but I switched to using a whitening mouthwash at night instead. It's gentle enough that I don't stress about enamel damage, and I swear it makes a noticeable difference by morning—at least enough to feel confident for a meeting or something.
I've noticed the same thing with baking soda toothpaste—my gums felt kinda irritated afterward, too. I ended up switching to activated charcoal powder once in a while instead. It's gentle enough for me, and I do see a subtle difference by morning. But I'm curious about the whitening mouthwash you mentioned...do you find it leaves any aftertaste or dryness? I've been hesitant to try those because of that.
"do you find it leaves any aftertaste or dryness?"
Tried a whitening mouthwash before bed for a while—didn't notice dryness, but the aftertaste was kinda weird. Personally, oil pulling with coconut oil feels gentler and leaves my mouth fresher by morning.
I've tried oil pulling too, and yeah, coconut oil definitely feels gentler. But does it actually whiten noticeably overnight? For me, baking soda toothpaste seems to give quicker results—though I admit the taste takes some getting used to. Mouthwash always leaves me with a weird chemical-y aftertaste...not exactly pleasant before bed.
