There is nothing like a steaming hot cup of coffee in the morning, but for coffee lovers like me, preventing and removing stains from my teeth is an ongoing process.

The safest and most effective way to remove preexisting stains from your teeth is to have them done professionally by a dentist. Most practitioners offer relatively cheap cosmetic packages or work closely with your insurance or reduced price dental care plans. If you don’t want to have your teeth whitened, check your insurance plan to see how often you can have a thorough cleaning. Most plans allow you a visit once every six months so be sure to take advantage of it.

For a home care option, head to your pharmacy or grocery store. With the advent of whitening strips came a whole new version of dental care. I buy White strips about once every six months and these seem to do the trick. I’ve tried a few other brands, but have found Crest White strips gave me the best results. Depending on how sensitive your teeth are, you may want to start with one strip a day versus the two the box prescribes. If it’s painful take a day or two off in between.

There is a large market of whitening tooth pastes, however the little amount of time the paste actually remains on your teeth actually does very little to whiten your teeth. I’ve also heard of people using a baking soda paste to do the trick, but again to achieve a whitening effect, the paste would have to remain on your teeth far longer than brushing allows. Instead choose a toothpaste that battles gingivitis, brush often (after each cup,) use mouth wash and floss at least once a day.

To avoid pesky stains, each time I drink tea or coffee I use a straw. I felt silly at first, but saw my pearly whites remained stain free so I’ve made it a habit. When you use a straw, tea and coffee don’t even come into contact with your teeth.

I have a slight obsession with brushing my teeth so I always carry a travel toothbrush and tube of toothpaste with me. Get in the habit of brushing each time after you eat to remove a plaque build up which dark liquids tend to be attracted to. After my morning coffee or an afternoon pick me up I slip into the restroom and brush right away. If you don’t have a toothbrush swish with water to rinse off whatever you can or chew a sugar free gum.

For coffee and tea lovers like me, I’ve learned the best method of removing stains is preventing them altogether. Try these handy little tricks to keep your smile sparkling.