How to have whiter teeth

Everyone wants whiter teeth, but if you haven't been blessed with a perfect set you can give nature a helping hand with the latest technology. We look at the options

Most people smile about 50 times a day, so you better make sure your chompers look their best. Your genes determine the colour of your teeth, but they do darken with age and become stained by things like coffee, tea and cigarettes. But new treatments and products can give you something to smile about. Here's what's on offer.

Bleaching

Want whiter teeth by tomorrow? Cosmetic bleaching is the quickest way to whiten teeth, and it's now available at many high street dental clinics. Laser-assisted bleaching takes about an hour, and costs around £600. More commonly available is tray-bleaching, where a dentist moulds a tray to fit your mouth, which is then filled with bleach solution and worn for an hour a day or overnight, every day for a few weeks. The typical cost is £150-£350. 'It's not a complicated procedure but go to a dentist who does it quite regularly,' says Dr Martin Fellowfield, a British Dental Association spokesman.

Teeth can be bleached as many shades lighter as you want - but be aware, as very white teeth look unnatural. Staining foods (such as coffee, tea, curry and beetroot) must be avoided for a few hours after using the tray, and a few weeks after laser lightening. Treatment is minimally invasive and effects last for two to three years. Gum sensitivity can occasionally be a problem with some people.

Whitening toothpaste

Until quite recently, many whitening toothpastes were mildly abrasive, but most now use enzymes and chemical formulations for stain-free molars. New formulations come out all the time, but when the British Dental Journal published a paper comparing whitening toothpastes last year, Aquafresh Whitening, Macleans Whitening, Rapid White and Super White came out on top. Beverly Hills Formula Natural White has performed well in similar independent tests. In each of these trials the five brands above outstripped more expensive brands like Rembrandt.