Teeth whitening may seem like a long and difficult process, unless you know how to do it effectively. It is possible to have a winning smile, without the stress, if you have the information you need to make the right choices. Try a few of the tips below to get on your way to whiter teeth.

To keep your teeth looking as bright as possible, you will want to cut back on cigarettes, red wine, coffee, etc. If you can't give up your coffee and other drinks known to cause staining, you may want to consider drinking them through a straw, so these beverages don't come in contact with your teeth.

Try not to use over-the-counter whitening products without first consulting with your dentist. A lot of the times, these products' harsh chemicals can actually damage your teeth, far from the intended benefits. Your dentist will be able to help you determine if your tooth enamel is strong enough for OTC treatments.

When whitening your teeth, you'll find that you get the best results if your teeth are yellowing. You'll get medium grade results if your teeth are brown. If your teeth are grey, you'll get the least results. Keep this in mind when you're shelling out money to whiten your teeth.

To avoid unnecessary pain, people with sensitive teeth should consult a dental professional to find the best possible whitening product. Since most take home teeth whitening products are not made for sensitive teeth, it is important that you consult a professional before applying an irritant to your own sensitive teeth. They can direct you to the most effective and pain-free whitening solution.

If you're a pregnant or lactating mother, you should not undergo any teeth whitening procedure. It can have many negative effects on the baby. Before having your teeth whitened, you should consult with your dentist and let them know up front if you're pregnant or lactating. They'll be able to say for sure whether it's a danger to the baby or not.

You can have a tooth whitening procedure that is done with a laser at your dental office. This procedure is probably the quickest solution when you want your teeth whitened and brightened. This process involves painting the teeth with a bleaching agent and then activating the agent with a laser. This process lightens your teeth by about five or six times with the first application.

As you can see from the practical and common-sense tips in the article above, teeth whitening need not be a difficult process at all. Choose the tips that are right for your needs and you will find that you can be on your way to a brighter smile in much less time than you thought.