Whitening teeth, a not-so-easy task? Think again.

Many think that teeth whitening require lots of time, attention and money, they were partly right. But with the simple yet proper ways of taking good care and maintaining your pearly whites, having clean, healthy and white teeth wouldn’t be too much of a job.

Here are some simple yet effective ways in preventing teeth discoloration (compiled in part from colgate.com and shine.yahoo.com.)

1. Chew sugar-free gum

A sugar substitute in gums, xylitol, reduces bacteria in our mouth that cause tooth decay. Research clearly established that the use of xylitol sweetened foods provides additional help in the battle against tooth decay and teeth darkening by significantly decreasing plaque accumulation.

2. Don’t drink coffee, soda, tea or red wine

All of these stain our teeth. But the worst would be green tea. If you happen to drink any of these, be sure to brush your teeth or drink water afterwards to wash away the stains left in your mouth.

3. Stop eating cherries and blueberries

This highly pigmented fruits leave too much stain on the teeth. Eat strawberries instead. Strawberries contain acids that “burn” teeth making them appear whiter. Some studies have also shown that Ellagic acid, a natural organic compound and antioxidant found in strawberries, have a beneficial health effect.

4. Don’t smoke
We all know that smoking has different bad effects on our body – lung cancer, oral cancer, gum disease, bad breath. Aside from negatively affecting our internal organs, smoking also affects our appearance.

Cigarettes, tobacco, whether smoked or chewed, leave out stains on our teeth that regular brushing cannot remove. Accumulation leaves our teeth too stained and damaged that even whitening products cannot cure.

5. Don’t use a whitening toothpaste

Surprised? Whitening toothpastes only work to remove surface stains. They don’t actually bleach the teeth. Abrasive particles used in these products may even harm your teeth and gums.

6. At-home whitening

When all else fails, try consulting your dentist. When done under dentist supervision, at-home whitening is very effective. Your dentist makes you a custom-fitted tray, which you fill with a whitening gel and wear up to two hours daily or at night for about two weeks. Most whitening kits contain a solution of 10-15% carbamide peroxide, which is used to bleach teeth.