getty_rf_photo_of_woman_using_electric_toothbrush Want teeth whitening and brighter. Stained teeth can occur naturally as we age, but some common foods, drinks, and even mouthwashes can cause teeth stains.

a. Home Whitening Strips : Tooth whitening strips will help get rid of tooth stains. These strips are very thin, virtually invisible — and are coated with a peroxide-based whitening gel. You wear them a few minutes daily for a week or more. Results are visible in just a few days, and last at least a year. The results with strips are not as dramatic as with teeth whitening kits, but the strips are easy to use and pretty much fool-proof.

b. Home Remedies for Whiter Teeth : Some people still prefer the age-old home remedy of baking soda and a toothbrush to gently whiten teeth at home. Also, some foods such as celery, apples, pears, and carrots trigger lots of saliva — which helps to scrub away stains on your teeth. Chewing sugarless gum also triggers saliva, which helps eliminate teeth stains. A bonus from all that saliva: It neutralizes acid that causes tooth decay. With teeth, more saliva is better all around.

c. Teeth-Whitening Toothpastes : How to get stains off your teeth? Over-the-counter toothpastes, gels, and liquids help remove surface stains. Many of these products contain mild abrasives, chemicals or polishing agents. Unlike bleaches, they don’t change the color of teeth. But if you want teeth bleaching action in your toothpaste, you can have that, too. Some whitening toothpastes work with peroxide and baking soda — whitening teeth through mild bleaching.

d. Foods that Cause Teeth Stains : There’s another reason to watch what you eat – some common foods can cause tooth discoloration. Here’s an easy way to tell if a food might be at fault: Anything that can stain a white cotton T-shirt can stain teeth, say dentists. Coffee stains teeth, for example. Other top offenders are beverages such as tea, dark sodas, and fruit juices. These teeth stains develop slowly and become more noticeable as we age.

e. Sports Drinks Tough on Teeth? : While all sweetened drinks are bad for teeth, some energy and sports drinks may be worse, according to one study in General Dentistry. Researchers found that these drinks — as well as bottled lemonade — may erode tooth enamel after long-term use. The result is thin, translucent, discolored teeth. To prevent tooth erosion:

  • Don’t sit and sip these drinks for a long time.
  • Rinse your mouth with water when finished drinking.

See your dentist for regular checkups and professional cleaning. The abrasion and polishing methods dentists use can remove most teeth stains caused by food and tobacco.

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