The best way is to brush your teeth carefully twice a day, to floss daily and to see your dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings. Limit stain-causing foods and habits. These include tobacco, certain foods and beverages (such as coffee, tea, red wine and berries), some drugs (such as tetracycline) or trauma to the tooth. It is normal for teeth to become slightly darker with age, and some people's teeth are naturally darker than others.

Yes. In the dental office, chairside whitening takes 30 to 50 minutes and one to three visits. A shield (made of rubber) protects your gums from the whitening agent (a form of hydrogen peroxide) which is "painted" onto the discoloured teeth. Mouthguard whitening is done by yourself at home. You wear a custom-made mouthguard with special whitening gel provided by your dentist for a period of time each day or overnight over a number of weeks. Individual response to whitening varies from person to person. The amount of whitening depends on the number of teeth involved and the severity and type of discolouration. Over-the-counter at-home whiteners are not recommended because they may cause problems associated with over-exposing the gum tissue to the active whitening agent. It is also important for your dentist to first diagnose the reason for the discolouration of your teeth. Any whitening treatment should be done under the supervision of a dentist.