I need tips for whitening my teeth and getting rid of bad breath?

I need help with my worst feature on my body... my teeth! I brush my teeth with special toothpaste and I try and try to whiten my teeth and get rid of bad breath! Any tips? Thanks
--------------------
Dental hygienist here. This is a long one, but it's bursting at the seams with info! I'll address the whitening issue first, then the malodor. Whitening your teeth is easy. There are several options: Over-the-counter strips (think Crest or Listerine) will be more effective than your rinses. Whitening toothpastes contain abrasive materials designed to help remove stain, but do not "bleach" your teeth. In-office procedures like Zoom are very quick but can leave you with some hefty sensitivity issues. Also, there have been some lawsuits involving the light-activated/laser whitening systems. Take-home whitening gels from your dentist are a very effective and safer way to whiten teeth; the dentist takes impressions and makes models of your teeth. From those, customized trays that fit all the contours, nooks and crannies of your teeth are made. The gel is placed in the trays, and within 7-14 days, you should have a very nice result. The cost varies, but anything over $200 for a whitening system is too much. In the meantime, get a good cleaning to remove stain and any calculus/tarter deposits that could be holding stain---this could prevent the "bleach" from doing its job. Also, watch your intake of dark drinks like coffee, tea and sodas. Drink through a straw to help keep the stain to a minimum. Think of your teeth as a white shirt: if you spill something dark on it, you want to wash it out before the stain sets. The same goes for your teeth: brush the stain off before it sets. Easy rule to live by, eh? Now, for the bad breath question. Our mouths are filled with all kinds of nasty critters:bacteria, fungi, viruses, you name it. The bacteria, in particular, can release a nasty aroma. First, get a good cleaning. The hard calculus/tarter is rough like the surface of a brick and acts as a magnet and holding area for plaque. Next, you have to brush and floss regularly. Studies show that power brushes like Sonicare really do a more effective job of removing plaque. Use a tongue scraper. Drink water. Gargle with a mouthwash, but watch out for those with high alcohol content like Listerine--- they can lead to dry mouth which can contribute to malodor. Watch what you eat---are you crazy about obvious bad-breath contributors like onions, feta cheese or garlic? Are you taking any meds that leave you with dry mouth? You may need to treat the dry mouth symptoms. Do you have heartburn or acid reflux? These can contribute, as well, and may need to be treated. Do you have any sinus/allergy problems? Post-nasal drip is a big cause of bad breath. Lastly, sometimes the folds around the tonsils or the tonsils themselves can hold little "stink bombs"--- white balls of bacteria and bacterial waste products. You can check for these by looking in the mirror and opening wide---make sure you say "aah" so that your soft palate raises up and you can see. Sometimes coughing will pop them out, or even working at them with a cotton swab may work. Best of luck, and don't forget to floss!!
Source