“You don’t have to brush your teeth - just the ones you want to keep.”

Shine up your smile!: pega esta imagen en tú pagina, Foro, Myspace o Ebay con este código...

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And with these fail-proof tips on how to make your not-so-pearly whites, whiter, and how to ensure they don’t turn yellow to begin with, you’ll shine up your smile in no time.

1. Help your teeth through diet.

A healthy, well-balanced diet will benefit your teeth the same way it benefits the rest of your system. Probably the most important diet advice would be to drink your milk. Calcium is vital to strong and beautiful teeth. Also refrain from eating too much candy, chocolate and other sugar-based products, as these cause tooth decay.

2. Avoid these stain masters.

Here are some of the main culprits that stain teeth: coffee, tea (even iced tea), cigarette smoke, colas, curry, soy sauce and dark juices like cranberry and grape. If you seriously want to avoid future stains, cut these out.

3. Use a straw.

If you must have tea, cola or one of the other stain-mongering beverages listed above, be sure to use a straw. It helps the drink bypass the teeth and gums and cuts down on your chances for dingy teeth.

4. Antibiotics.

Some forms of antibiotics and other medications can cause your teeth to become yellow; since you can’t avoid taking these if they are prescribed to you, consult your dentist if staining does occur.

5. Swim at your own risk.

Swimming regularly in pool water can cause stains — no joke! The chemicals used to clean pools can lead to a condition known as swimmers’ calculus that leaves brown stains on teeth. That build-up is tartar, so you’ll need to see your dentist for a professional cleaning to get it off.

6. Try a different lipstick.

This one’s for the ladies: Try using a different shade of lipstick. Blue-based reds, plums, purples and pinks minimize the yellow tones in teeth, while oranges and browns make your pearly whites look dirty.

7. Stop biting nails.

Crunch, crunch, crunch. Do you bite your nails? Habitual nail chewers damage more than their cuticles; they can damage their teeth, too. If you have weakened enamel, you end up with an exposed, dented, soft area in the center of the tooth. And that’s when the problem occurs. The denting is much softer than the enamel and if exposed to bad habits such as chewing nails, opening beer bottles, it will wear down. Often the middle part dissolves quicker than the outside and the brittle enamel is very prone to chipping, making the teeth look uneven and unattractive.

8. Scrape off smells.

With more than 100 bacteria, to every skin cell, your tongue is a bug breeding ground. Scraping away that sticky coating from the back of your tongue twice a day will keep bad breath at bay. Double up with a tongue gel and it will also help break down the gases that cause halitosis.

Find out if you have bad breath by performing the ?lick wrist test’. Lick the inside of your wrist and smell the saliva as it dries. Although not a conclusive test, if the smell is bad then there’s a good chance your breath is too.

9. Wash bacteria away.

Ok, I know it gives you fresh breath and I know people are less likely to run away from you when you gargle with mouthwash, but according to Japanese researchers, it also keep colds at bay. There are many varieties available in your local supermarket in which the active ingredients vary from eucalyptus and menthol to antibacterial agents. It’s all a matter of taste. An alcohol-free brand causing less irritation to your mouth with long-term use.

Also drink lots of water to keep your mouth hydrated. It works as a natural mouthwash by washing away sulphurous bacteria that may stop you from having fresh breath.

10. Slide the floss through.

After you’ve snacked at your desk, if you don’t remove the offending chunks within several hours, the decay-causing acids will begin taking effect, and the bad bacteria in your mouth will begin the decay process. Reason enough to start flossing don’t you agree?

Wrap the floss around your middle finger, and use your thumb and forefingers on each hand to grip and manoeuvre the floss. You should not jab or force the floss between your teeth while flossing, but gently insert the floss and glide it into a C shape down to the gum line and up again, with a gentle rocking motion.

11. Chew on it.

Sugar-free gum containing the compound xylitol may aid in the battle against tooth decay. Xylitol replaces calorie-laden sugars that lead to tooth decay — it also helps prevent cavities by curbing bacteria growth. Chewing gum is great for after meals but no substitute for cleaning your teeth, try and keep a travel toothbrush and toothpaste in your desk drawer. Get chewing.

12. Brush with success.

Whether you’re using an electric brush or stuck with the old manual then keep the brush at a 45-degree angle and move it back and forth gently in short (tooth-wide) strokes. Also, take your time while brushing (a good rule of thumb is about two minutes). The bristles of your brush should not be too hard, because otherwise they can, over time, erode away the gums and lead to a receding gum line. Also, your brush should fit your mouth properly, allowing you to reach all tooth surfaces easily.

13. Breath-freshening toothpaste.

Any brand of fluoride toothpaste will get those gnashers gleaming. Fluoride helps teeth retain calcium, which keeps them strong and slows the production of acids that attack teeth. Don’t waste your money on whitening toothpastes - they cannot whiten your teeth, they’ll just reduce stain build-up in the future.

14. Rinse with hydrogen peroxide.

Use 3 percent hydrogen peroxide from the drugstore as a mouthwash — rinse and spit only — no swallowing. You can mix it with an equal part water if you find it too strong. Or if the salty taste is too much for you, try adding a drop of peppermint essential oil. It’s cheap, non-toxic, and works as a natural tooth-bleaching agent.

15. Say ahhh…

Make sure to visit your dentist at least two times a year, to get your full cleaning, cavity-check, and whatever professional dental care you may need. It’s very important to visit your dentist before taking any actual tooth whitening measures yourself. He can recommend what is referred to as a chair-side treatment, which is an expensive but effective way to have your teeth professionally bleached. This “power bleach” requires one sitting at the dentist’s office and lasts from 30 minutes to 2 hours (depending on the technique), and comes with a hefty price tag, but assures that you leave the dentist with white teeth, once and for all. This is the safest method, but may cause your teeth to be more sensitive after the treatment.

16. At home bleaching kits.

These kits are very convenient, as they can be done at home without a dental appointment. They are also less expensive than in office treatments, but don’t expect to have the same results.

One type of home bleaching kit can be purchased from your dental office. They come with a tray to insert into your mouth. Typically this tray will be filled with solution and worn on your teeth overnight for a few weeks. Your dentist will fit this tray to your teeth. You can purchase kits like these in stores, but the results may not be as good as the kit you get from a dentist.

Another type of at-home kit comes with a small brush, which is used to brush a gel solution onto your teeth. Some are used for 30 minutes a day, while others are supposed to be used over night.

17. Porcelain veneers.

These are custom-made porcelain facings that are placed over the front of teeth to give the patient a perfect smile. These will be permanently bonded to your teeth, and enable you to eat the same foods as before (except for excessive sugar, of course). This option is expensive ($700 - $1200 USD per tooth!), and requires several visits to the dentist.

18. Allow the time, use the time, and be on time.

These are YOUR teeth. How you care for them will determine how they will care for you down the road. Your attention to your good oral health could even save your life.

Follow these helpful tooth-whitening tips, and you’ll be smiling all the way to… well, everywhere.