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.

Brushing
'Tooth abrasion is becoming a serious problem in the UK,' says Harley Street cosmetic dentist, Anthony Newbury. 'People scrub harder believing their teeth will become cleaner and whiter, yet this can actually damage teeth and gums and will not improve their appearance.'

An electric brush with a two-minute timer could improve things. Sonicare Plus (£99.99 from www.sonicare.com) vibrates against the tooth at a light-pressured 31,000 brushstrokes a minute (manually we manage about 250), and offers five times as much between-teeth plaque removal as a manual brush. Another model is the Braun Oral B 3D Plaque Remover, which retails at £59.99.

Veneers
Cosmetic dentistry is often compared to a facelift, as improved teeth tend to subtly take years off your appearance. New ultra-thin veneers may be the answer if the problem is crooked, gappy and chipped teeth, or for a smile that is badly stained. The least invasive veneers are made of composite resin, which is bonded to the front of the existing tooth to create an even, white smile.

Porcelain veneers are also available, which are placed on a tooth that has been filed down, a little like a false fingernail. Some cosmetic dentists believe that glass ceramics give a more enamel-like reflection. Different cosmetic dentists have different opinions about which is better, but expect to pay £160-£750 a tooth. Veneers do mean committing to a life-long course of treatment as they will stain over time, usually at a different rate to existing enamel. Bear in mind that filing teeth down can cause tooth sensitivity, or problems if the tooth is already weak.