I've had good experiences with oil pulling too, but sunflower oil is new to me... might have to give that a shot. Baking soda's great occasionally—just gotta be careful not to overdo it. Enamel doesn't exactly grow back, unfortunately. Learned that one the hard way, haha.
Same here, oil pulling really helped me when I had some gum sensitivity issues. Haven't tried sunflower oil either, usually just stick to coconut oil since it's cheap and handy. Totally agree on the baking soda—it's great once in a while but too much made my teeth feel weirdly sensitive. Learned to space it out a bit better after that experience... Glad I'm not alone on this one, haha.
Totally agree about spacing out the baking soda—it's abrasive, so too much can actually wear down your enamel over time. Oil pulling with coconut oil is solid, but sunflower oil is worth a shot too; it's lighter and doesn't have that strong coconut taste some people dislike. Another toothpaste hack I've found helpful is adding a tiny bit of activated charcoal occasionally. It helps lift surface stains gently, but again, moderation is key since it can be abrasive if used too often. Learned that one the hard way after going a bit overboard at first...
Good point about activated charcoal—I had a patient who went a little charcoal-crazy a while back. She was convinced it was the best thing ever after seeing it all over social media. Ended up coming in worried about sensitivity, and sure enough, her enamel was starting to show some wear. She dialed it way back and things improved, but it definitely made me cautious about recommending it too enthusiastically.
Speaking of unusual toothpaste hacks, has anyone experimented with xylitol? I've seen some pretty interesting stuff about it lately. Supposedly it can help balance oral bacteria and prevent cavities, but I've also heard mixed reviews on taste and texture. I'm curious if anyone's tried incorporating it into their routine and how it went...
I've actually been using a xylitol toothpaste for about six months now, after my dentist recommended it. At first, the taste was a bit odd—kind of sweet but not in the usual minty toothpaste way. Took me a week or two to get used to it, honestly. But now I barely notice it, and my mouth does feel fresher longer throughout the day.
Funny story though: my granddaughter stayed over last month and accidentally used my toothpaste instead of her usual bubblegum-flavored one. You should've seen her face—she was NOT impressed. She said it tasted like "weird candy," haha. But seriously, I've noticed fewer issues with dry mouth since switching, and my dentist said my gums look healthier too.
One thing I'm curious about though is baking soda toothpaste. My sister swears by it, says it's great for whitening and keeping her teeth feeling smooth. But I've always worried it'd be too abrasive...anyone have experience with that?
