A smile is the prettiest thing you can wear. — Anonymous
Most tooth-whitening products are made for profit, not for use. The beta testers reviewed all the options below and rated them out of five stars for ease of use, effectiveness, and cost.
As a word of caution, don't rush to buy every tooth whitening option below. Stick with the ones rated highly (more stars are better) for a few weeks to see the final results. Only if more stain removal is needed should you try out other options!
Like the previously linked products, these are all Amazon associate links. Clicking them keeps these guides afloat, so be nice. Some beta testers had to oil-pull their teeth for weeks to confirm that it doesn't really work—sorry, John.
Top Tier (★★★★)
Second Tier (★★★)
Third Tier (★★)
Dental product criteria:
Preventing stains before they happen
More important than correcting past teeth stains is preventing them from happening in the first place. Here are a few methods—backed by science—that help keep teeth from forming stains:
1. Get plenty of calcium
Intaking ample calcium in your diet can reduce tooth discoloration caused by a lack of calcium. Therefore, make sure that you consume plenty of calcium-rich foods like cheese, broccoli, and milk to protect your teeth from enamel erosion [1, 2].
2. Remember to brush
While tooth discoloration comes with age, it's largely caused by plaque buildup.
Brushing your teeth regularly will prevent plaque buildup. If you need a reminder on the correct brushing technique, head over to the 
4. Brushing Well page.
Additionally, the recommended products above will provide an additional layer of defense against plaque and potential dental problems.
3. Avoid staining food and beverages
Many common foods and beverages contain chemicals or have properties that stain teeth.
For a full list of these foods, head over to the 
Foods to Avoid page.
4. Limit your sugar intake
A diet high in sugar supports the growth of Streptococcus mutans, the primary type of bacteria that causes plaque and gingivitis [1, 2]. But this does not mean you must remove sugar from your diet entirely.
If you eat sugary foods or beverages, try to brush your teeth soon afterward. If you can't, swish water around in your mouth and spit it out to remove the sticky residue.
The end. Really.
If you've gotten this far, you've completed the guide to make your teeth cleaner, healthier, and whiter than at any point in your life! A few final reminders:
- To get the "cheat sheet" for this guide, click here
- If you have a comment or something to add, click here
- If you'd like to become a beta tester, click here
If you'd like additional tips, there is tons of great, crowd-sourced information inside the "Extra Pages" to check out. You can access the extra pages by clicking on the "breadcrumbs" at the top of your screen.