When you meet someone, do you flash your smile?  Or do you hide your teeth?  If yellow or stained teeth are keeping you from looking and feeling your best, bleaching -- a safe, quick process that whitens your teeth -- could put a brighter smile in your life and give your self-confidence a boost.

Is Bleaching for Me?

Bleaching is tough on stains, but gentle on your teeth.  It can remove many stains that are in the outer layers of the tooth.  If your teeth have yellowed with age or are stained from tobacco, tea, coffee, or food, bleaching may restore their natural whiteness.  Antibiotic (tetracycline) stains and discoloration caused by an injury may take longer to bleach and not respond as well.  Bleaching will not change the color of fillings and crowns, and it's not advised if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

Keep your teeth whiter by following these tips:

Don't smoke.  Smoking stains the outer layers of your teeth causing them to turn brown.

Avoid food and liquids that stain.  Red wine, tea, coffee, and some foods, such as berries, can leave stains on your teeth.

Brush and floss your teeth at least once a day to remove plaque.  Plaque turns to tartar (calculus), which can discolor your teeth.

See your dentist for regular checkups and cleaning.  Removing plaque and tartar helps keep your teeth white and free of decay.