If you are interviewing for a new job, dating, or meeting a new business associate, it is important to make a dazzling first impression. You lead off with the intention to make the first breakthrough by flashing a warm, bright and attractive smile. Or do you? Look in the mirror and smile at yourself. Smile B-I-G. Do you like what you see?

If you're like most people, you may quickly turn your smile into a frown. Your teeth may need a whiter appearance. It's really not your fault. It is easy to have your teeth become discolored. Activities like smoking, drinking coffee or cola-colored soft drinks, chewing tobacco or eating foods that stain sneak up on you.

In fact, age does too. The American Dental Association suggests that plaque builds up on teeth as we get older and affect tooth color. With age, dentin, the layer beneath tooth enamel, gets darker and that can discolor teeth as well.

What can you do to fight back? Despite these challenges, you can develop your beautiful white smile and gleam confidence to those you meet. You can select any of a variety of whitening processes and products that cosmetic dentists use to get whiter teeth and a brighter life. If your budget is tight, you may explore home treatment and over-the-counter tooth whitening products.

If you have the time and the money, you can hire a professional cosmetic dentist to deliver effective teeth whitening processes. Make sure to investigate cosmetic dentists in your local region. Look through the Yellow Pages, on-line directories, get testimonials and recommendations.

Before starting any work, schedule a professional examination to learn what cosmetic options the dentist provides, and get a cost estimate. Professional whitening processes can range from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, depending on the dentist's expertise, the region of the country, and the whitening process itself.

For example, a cosmetic dentist can whiten your teeth using brand name processes, like Zoom Whitening. You receive Zoom Whitening in the dentist's office. The dentist uses laser-light activated whitening gel. Such a whitening procedure may last between one to one-and-half hours per visit. The number of treatments depends on how discolored your teeth are and how bright you want them to be.

Sometimes, you might just have a few stains on your front teeth or may just want to lighten your teeth color. You can use tooth whitening products purchased over the counter to achieve that goal. Teeth color may be lightened by repeatedly covering the enamel with a concentrated treating chemical, like hydrogen peroxide or baking soda.

Whitening strips and paint-on whiteners are short-term fixes that can whiten your teeth. Realize that these methods are not permanent and last a much shorter time than professional whitening treatments. You need to be aware of the short-comings. You could actually destroy the enamel on your teeth if you use strong treatments on a continual basis.

Another temporary approach is to use teeth whitening strips. Whitening strips are inexpensive and do brighten teeth. However, whitening strips are limited. Whitening strips use an exact dose of carbamide peroxide, but only whiten the teeth in direct contact with the whitening strip. Whitening strips cover the six center teeth, from eyetooth to eyetooth. If you need a quick bright smile, whitening strips may provide an answer, but you will not whiten all of your teeth.

If a white smile is your desire, you can use a tooth whitening process to your advantage. Make sure to evaluate both over-the-counter methods as well as professional whitening available through qualified dentists.

There is nothing like a white smile. It conveys to the world good health and confidence. It makes your boss, your date, your family and your friends smile back, while they think, "How does she (he) get such bright, white teeth?" Whiten your teeth today and become the dazzling person that people want to meet.