#1) CVS Platinum Whitening Kit is obviously a given to kick start your brighter smile! This professional strength treatment includes a soft mouth tray that is comfortable to wear and doesn’t need any heating or molding. The tray is pre-filled with the minty whitening mixture to keep it easy, so that you won’t have to deal with a messy application! The formula also includes potassium nitrate to reduce any discomfort/tooth sensitivity that sometimes happens with teeth whitening. You only have to use it for 20 minutes to already see results! (Oh and the kit comes with two extra treatments pre-filled in an easy-to-use syringe for the next time you want to use it!)

#2) Brush your teeth! As a daily coffee and tea drinker (and overall caffeine addict!) I’ve unfortunately been on the receiving end of these beverage side effects – dreaded yellow stained teeth! I’ve been slowly but surely getting into the habit of brushing my teeth after I drink lemon water, coffee and/or tea in the mornings which has become crucial to avoiding stained teeth.

#3) Flossing! Dentists have been telling us for decades to floss daily but I’ll be the first to admit that it’s something I frequently forget. I started noticing that my teeth usually begin to show signs of staining and discoloration around the edges between my teeth which was a big reality check! Flossing daily helps to prevent discoloration – plus, it keeps your teeth healthy!

#4) Exfoliate! Exfoliating your lips might not seem like it has anything to do with your teeth but having a soft, healthy pout definitely helps make your smile look even brighter! I love using lip exfoliating products like this e.l.f. Studio Lip Exfoliator to gently massage my lips, removing any dead skin and wipe for a soft, supple smile! You can also DIY your own lip scrub by simply mixing vaseline with granulated sugar and using the same steps, gently rubbing it into your lips and wiping!

#5) Choosing the right lip color! There’s nothing more unappealing than a bright tangerine tango lipstick with yellow teeth but that’s exactly what can happen. If I know I’ll need to flash my pearly whites, I keep the color wheel in mind and lean more towards a blue based lip color like this cool tone red lip gloss! Steer clear of anything too orangey as that can bring out the yellow in your teeth.