Ever put on a bold, red lip only to smile in the mirror and realize your teeth have never looked yellower? Discolored and stained teeth often sabotage beauty looks by making the majority of lip colors look harsh rather than complementary. A punchy lip color draws attention to a yellow smile -- in a bad way. Getting a brighter smile enables you to experiment with on-trend shades like oranges and deep roses and look great. "You'll start noticing you can wear all of the lip colors you never thought were possible," says Dr. Jonathan B. Levine, a dentist who specializes in aesthetic dentistry in New York City. For your brightest smile yet, try picking a deep red lipstick with blue undertones.

Wrinkles, crows' feet and age spots get targeted in your anti-aging beauty regimen, but teeth may be giving away your age, too. As you get older, the outer layer of enamel begins to wear away, revealing a yellowish color. Factor in stains from multiple cups of coffee a day, a glass of red wine every night or smoking, and you're left with a dull smile that is just as telling as sagging skin. Never fear: You can easily turn back the clock by brightening up. "A white smile is the easiest way to look 10 years younger," says Levine.

"In a lot of cases, yellow or dark teeth tend to hold people back," says Levine. The less you smile, the more you miss out on opportunities to exude approval, power, friendship, attraction and even a positive outlook on life. "Smiling increases the production of serotonin [and] has been scientifically proven to elevate the mood of both the person giving the [smile] and the person receiving it," Levine explains. With a whiter and brighter smile, you're prone to smile more often and project more confidence. The end result? Way more self-esteem, no self-help books or motivational speakers required.

The confidence that comes with a brighter smile not only positively affects your personal life, it boosts your professional life as well. Numerous studies show that a bright smile, the key to a great first impression, has a direct effect on successful interpersonal interactions in a professional setting. In mock job interviews, prospective employers viewed candidates with whiter teeth as more professional, open, trustworthy and healthy. Not only were employers more likely to hire candidates with bright smiles, they were also more likely to offer them higher salaries.

It's easy to whiten teeth in minutes with at-home products, and you can maintain that bright smile by stocking your kitchen with the right ingredients. "Nutrition is critical," says Levine. "Eat healthy, green, leafy vegetables and fruits that raise the pH of the mouth, allowing good types of bacteria to thrive." Also look for crunchy vegetables like celery and carrots, which naturally remove surface stains. Here are the top items Lowenberg recommends adding to your grocery list:

Kale: The consistency is so dense and rough that it cleans your teeth as you are eating it, removing surface stains.

Cheese: One of the best and easiest ways to combat acid erosion in your teeth is to eat a piece of cheese after every meal. Cheese is rich in protein, calcium and phosphorus, all of which can help buffer the acids in your mouth. Cheddar is best, since it contains the highest levels of alkali; soft cheeses like brie or feta won't have much of an effect.

Strawberries Strawberries are a great, natural way to whiten teeth. You can just eat them or brush your teeth with a paste of strawberries and baking soda. Be sure to thoroughly clean teeth afterward to prevent tooth decay.

Apple Cider Vinegar: Mix apple cider vinegar with baking soda to make a natural toothpaste, or gargle with it daily before brushing to help remove surface stains.

Oranges: Buff teeth with the inside of the peel or combine ground bay leaves and dried orange peel to create a toothpaste that leaves a brilliant shine.

Bananas: Next time you're about to throw out a banana peel, rub it on your teeth for two minutes. After 15 minutes, brush your teeth with your regular toothpaste. Repeat this process two to three times a week.