A whiter smile is crucial to an appearance of which you can really be proud. Beyond simply looking good, your teeth can take some serious damage over time. In your later years, this can become something that affects your health and requires extensive medical care. The best solution is to begin taking care of your smile earlier, and you will never need to worry about such issues.

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.

Floss daily. Flossing daily will help you keep up with other proper dental hygiene habits. Flossing and brushing are imperative to having clean, white teeth. Carry a spare toothbrush and floss with you in your glove box, bag, or purse so that you can brush if you are going to be away from your house.

Strips that whiten your teeth are inexpensive and can be found nearly anywhere. These strips are placed on your teeth and the chemicals they are treated with whiten them. White strips are not as popular as they once were, however they can still be a useful tool in your arsenal.

Try natural remedies to whiten your teeth. Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda have long been known to whiten teeth. These can be used together as a paste to brush your teeth with. You can also swish with a mixture of peroxide and water two or three times daily. This will not only whiten your teeth but will improve the overall state of your oral health.

See your doctor before taking any steps toward whitening your teeth with store-bought products. It might be that you simply need a professional cleaning. Your dentist can tell you if your gums are healthy. If you have any inflammation it is wise to wait on the whitening treatment until your gums are in better condition.

To keep water from staining your teeth, avoid fluoride. While fluoride can be good for your teeth's overall health, many people have reported that it leaves their teeth discolored. If there's fluoride in the tap water in your home, try installing a water purifier to minimize its effects on your teeth.

Mix baking soda and salt together for an at-home whitening method. This is a well known treatment for making teeth whiter. You can make a paste out of it by mixing them together with a little bit of water. Make sure you rinse your mouth out well afterwards.

Through these tips and anything you may learn from your dentist, you can become a more confident you with a mouth full of teeth even in the most senior of years. Not everyone must end up with dentures or only half their teeth remaining. This is the perfect way to avoid such a fate.