Your smile is the first impression that you give people. You take such pride in the clothes that you wear and the way that you groom yourself, wouldn't it make sense that you want your teeth to match that effort? This article will give you tips on how you can have a whiter smile.

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.

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.

After you have used a teeth whitening program, do not use a mouth wash with alcohol in it. The alcohol can actually diminish the effects of the program and revert your results or dramatically lower them. On the other side, an oxyegenating mouth wash may actually benefit the teeth whitening regimen.

You should attempt to have a small toothbrush with you at all times. This will allow you to brush your teeth after eating any sugary foods. Sugary foods will stick to teeth, and cause staining if they are not removed. When you are done eating your snack, be sure to give your teeth a good brushing. As long as you thoroughly scrub your teeth and rinse them well, you do not need to use toothpaste.

Rinse with water after you drink or eat anything. If you take the time to get the food and drink off of your teeth directly after you consume them, you will have better results in keeping them white. This will help you avoid stains that are difficult to get off your teeth.

There's no substitute for regular cleanings at your dentist's office. Cleaning done by a professional can remove a lot of the stains and tartar that have built up over time. These cleanings can whiten teeth, but they also help you avoid gum disease and cavities.

Don't be afraid to change the way your teeth look. Not all bleaching or whitening results will have you looking like you put in fake plastic teeth. If you use the tips that were given to you in this article, you can have a whiter smile that better matches your overall look in no time.