Do you feel embarrassed every time you laugh? Are you afraid to let yourself smile? When you aren't happy with your teeth, it can be difficult to relax and be yourself. That's why doing what you can, to have whiter teeth is so important. Here are some suggestions on how to get your teeth sparkling.

Chewing gum can actually whiten teeth. It's true! Gum acts as a mild abrasive and also promotes saliva production, both of which help to clean teeth. But it is important to use a gum that does not contain sugar. Malitol is a sugar alcohol found in many gums, and it almost tastes just like sugar, and it will not rot your teeth.

There is no real evidence that teeth whitening products will harm a baby during pregnancy or nursing. You should play it safe and avoid taking any chances. There is no reason to risk your baby's health just to have a whiter smile. Go to your dentist and have a good cleaning done.

Make sure you regularly brush your teeth. You should make sure you brush your teeth at least two times a day, once in the morning and at night. More importantly, you should make sure you are properly brushing. This will help avoid a buildup of plaque and will help keep your teeth white.

Chew parsley leaves. Parsley leaves are known to make your teeth sparkle and help clean them. Chewing the leaves for a few minutes every day will give you teeth whitening results. You can do this a few times a day or once a day. Doing this can also help prevent bad breath.

A good tip that can help you whiten your teeth is to try oil pulling. Oil pulling is a really simple whitening method where you swish oil around in your mouth upon waking up in the morning. Swishing around the oil helps get rid of any tartar or stains that are on your teeth.

A lemon juice and salt mixture can be used to whiten your teeth at home. Many people swear by this home remedy for stained teeth. The salt scrubs plaque from your teeth, while the acidic properties of lemon juice have a bleaching action. You can make a paste and use this as you would your regular toothpaste.

One of the best ways to prevent your teeth from looking stained and yellow is to quit smoking. Nicotine can often make teeth look yellow, which will make your overall appearance look decades older. There are a variety of reasons to quit smoking, and the state of your teeth is just one of them.

Do not expect any kind of teeth whitening methods to work the first time, even bleaching them. Many people think that it only takes one time to get their teeth sparkly white and give up when the one time does not work. Usually, treatments require a follow-up every few months.

Avoid foods that are dark colored. Chances are, if the foods are dark in color they will discolor your teeth. Foods like berries, pasta sauces and balsamic vinegar are known to stain teeth. If you do eat them, you should brush your teeth afterward or drink a glass of water.

Drink beverages known to stain teeth with a straw. If beverages you drink are known to stain your teeth and you must have them, then drink them through a straw. This will ensure the drink isn't in direct contact with your teeth causing stains. This will keep your teeth whiter longer.

You don't need to be ashamed of the way your teeth look any longer. As you start applying the advice in this article, you'll start seeing a different right away, and the effects will only grow greater with time. Soon, nothing will be able to stop you from laughing and smiling away.