A Hollywood smile can greatly lift a person's appearance. It used to be that this could only be achieved by extensive dental work, often beyond the price range of an average person. But there are now a number of effective and affordable ways to whiten your teeth at home.

The best way to make a dramatic change to the appearance of your teeth is with a home whitening kit. These are now readily available and can be picked up with your weekly grocery shop or anywhere which sells beauty supplies. There are several types available and brands will differ, so read the instructions carefully when trying a new product, even if you have whitened your teeth before. Common methods of bleaching the teeth are specially formulated gels or whitening strips.

In addition to whitening kits there are every day products you can use to maintain your new, gleaming smile and whiten it further. Look for toothpastes that are specially formulated to whiten teeth. Baking soda has a whitening effect so toothpastes which are based around this ingredient can be a great choice for people who value a beautiful smile.

There are other steps you should take to keep your newly whitened smile looking its best. Water, if you drink plenty of it, will help remove minor staining on teeth. Sugary drinks, coffee and red wine on the other hand should only be drunk occasionally as they can contribute to decay or will stain teeth. Smokers may find it hard to keep their teeth pearly white as nicotine can stain teeth yellow, so try to cut down or even quit altogether.

The number of whitening at home products are increasing and improving all the time. It has never been easier to achieve a coveted whiter-than-white smile.