• Everyone wants bright sparkling teeth, but diet, heredity, and less than perfect oral maintenance can combine forces to make your whites less than pearly. However, don't despair! There are a number of things you can do, both at home or professionally, to help brighten your smile.

• There are dozens of products you can buy at your local drugstore or supermarket that profess to help whiten your teeth. These products vary in their efficiency and some that work well for most people may not work for others. For this reason, you may have to try a few different products to find the one that works best for you

1. Whitening toothpaste: Brush in the morning, before bed, and after every meal with your choice of whitening toothpaste. Although this may not help whiten severely stained teeth, it can help them from staining further
2. Electric toothbrushes: According to most dentists, electric toothbrushes work better at cleaning teeth than manual toothbrushes. Use an electric toothbrush combined with a whitening toothpaste for best results
3. Whitening trays and strips: This type of product generally provides more dramatic results. You should speak with your dentist before using trays or strips, however, as they will not work for people who have had certain dental work done or those who have overly sensitive teeth. Look for products that have a higher peroxide content for the best results.
4. Dental floss: Floss your teeth regularly. Regular maintenance and good dental hygiene habits may not make immediately noticeable changes in the color of your teeth, but will make for a cleaner, healthier mouth. Over time, this may result in whiter teeth and should help prevent further staining

• If you find that the above the counter methods listed above aren't working for you, or if you are looking for a more natural way to whiten your teeth, try some of the natural tooth-whitening strategies listed below:

1. Cut back on coffee.
2. If you smoke, stopping can dramatically improve your teeth color.
3. Snack on crunchy fruits and veggies, such as celery, carrots, apples, which help remove excess food particles and sugars remaining on your teeth
4. If you can stand the taste, rinse with a solution of hydrogen peroxide mixed with water before bedtime
5. Rinse your mouth with vinegar or lemon juice before brushing your teeth
6. Mix crushed strawberries with baking soda to make a paste, then spread this paste on your teeth and leave it on for about five minutes. Remove the paste and brush your teeth as normal

Note: You should not use methods four and five above more often than once a week and be certain to brush well afterward or the acids may damage your tooth enamel.

• If all else fails, speak to your dentist about professional bleaching products. There are whitening procedures that your dentist can do in-office which vary in cost from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Regardless of whether you are going to pursue professional teeth whitening options, you should still visit your dentist regularly to have him or her clean and polish your teeth.

The best, albeit slowest, way to whiten your teeth is to create and maintain habits that promote good oral health. Floss regularly and brush your teeth for at least two minutes with a whitening toothpaste and electric toothbrush in the morning, before bed and after every meal. If you are looking to make a quicker and more dramatic difference to the color of your teeth, speak to your dentist for a product recommendation.

The content contained on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your dentist before using the information presented here.