Everyone can appreciate the beauty of a white smile. However, not everyone appreciates all of the effort that goes into maintaining a white smile. The fact is that everything we eat has an effect on the overall color of our teeth. There are a lot of reasons that people have stains and discoloration. Some is caused just by every day "wear and tear" of life (eating, drinking, and breathing). Additional things that can make your teeth become discoloured are coffee, tea, smoking, sugary foods and hereditary. The great news is that there are steps that one can take to brighten their smiles. Here are some basic teeth whitening tips.

Don't ever start smoking. Quit if you already do. Nicotine plays an incredibly large role in the discoloration of teeth. Your teeth can quickly tell your secret obsession with cigarettes by their color. You will have a much easier time getting back to pearly whites if you quit. You already know the ramifications of smoking on the rest of your body. Your cosmetic health suffers too. There are absolutely no good that can come of smoking. For a whiter smile, quit smoking now!

Whiter teeth can happen with the help of strawberries, some studies show. You can either rub the slices on your teeth directly or you can mash them up to make a paste. You then only need to brush the paste onto your teeth. Before you rinse you need to leave it on for about five minutes though. Make sure that, after your "strawberry treatment" you floss thoroughly so that you get the mixture out from between your teeth. The drawback to this method is it can break down the enamel on your teeth.

You need to get your teeth cleaned regularly. A twice yearly cleaning can do quite a lot to keep your smile bright and white. Visiting the dentist is something few people enjoy. This is because, for some reason, a lot of dentists and dental hygienists can be really harsh in their assessment of our oral care.

Why give someone money to shout at you? You might not have such a big problem, though, if you practice proper oral hygiene. Having your teeth cleaned regularly by a dentist is a cheaper alternative to having your teeth whitened professionally and offers similar results.

The good news is that not all teeth whitening tips are expensive or require a licensed professional to administer them. Yes you could spend the money to have it done professionally but why? Why settle for an unflatteringly discolored smile when there are so many ways you can fix it? Remember: a white smile is a healthy smile!