Would it surprise you to know that “pearly white” is not the natural color your teeth should be? Research suggests that the natural color of teeth is actually light yellow to light yellow-red. As one gets older, your teeth darken even more. Surface enamel cracks and thus erodes over time, which makes it easier for stains to adhere and build up on your tooth surface.
Therefore, whitening your teeth with peroxide-laden tooth strips, tooth polishes, or other procedures won’t or don’t last. There is a logical reason for that: after you treat your teeth through whatever process you have chosen, you’ll probably still go back to smoking, drinking tea, coffee, wine, or even colas— the exact things that stained your teeth in the first place, so prevention is your best choice.