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Ready for your close-up?

Posted by Becky Taylor on 29/09/2009
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With teeth whitening becoming as everyday as a trip to the hair salon we investigate and test the different ways of obtaining a pristine white smile

Woman with white clean teeth These days there isn't a celebrity in existence who would dare step foot on the red carpet, or even outside their own front door without ensuring that they have a dazzling white Hollywood smile and, where a celebrity leads, it's only a matter of time before the rest of us follow. More and more of us are opting to have our teeth whitened and not just to improve our appearance. Being the proud owner of a pristine white smile can have many benefits. It gives the impression that you are successful, wealthy and happy, meaning a happier love life and better career can just be a simple teeth-whitening procedure away. At a time when keeping up appearances has never been more important, we delved into the pristine world of teeth whitening to bring you the different options available to suit all budgets.

Whitening on the High Street

There are so many teeth whitening options on the high street now it's hard to know which are a waste of time and money and which really do the job. After brushing our way through all of the most popular brands on our supermarket and chemist's shelves the whitening toothpaste which produced the most squeaky clean results was America's favourite, Beverly Hills Formula Total Protection Whitening Toothpaste. The toothpaste combines anti-bacterial agents with anti-stain polishers to protect, strengthen and whiten teeth so you can brush safe in the knowledge your teeth are in good hands.

Beverly Hills Formula Total Protection Whitening Toothpaste, £1.85, superdrug.com

On the run

If you're after that squeaky clean feeling and instant results visit Smilepod, a new friendly walk-in oral beauty service that offers a wide range of services from teeth cleaning and whitening to tooth jewellery. Conveniently located in London's Covent Garden, visitors can pop in for a procedure during their lunch hour. If your love of coffee, red wine or even cigarettes has left your teeth looking dull, yellow and stained then opt for the High-Gloss Diamond Polish which is one of the clinic's most popular treatments. The procedure takes just over 40 minutes and will remove the stains a standard teeth clean won't. Afterwards your teeth will feel incredibly clean and the colour will be even and whiter than they have been in years. As well as the obvious benefits this teeth spring clean will give to your appearance, the hygienist will also check the health of your gums and teeth and let you know if a visit to your dentist is necessary.

High-gloss diamond polish, £85, smilepod.co.uk

Hollywood smile

Many people are put off from having their teeth professionally whitened as it can be a fairly uncomfortable procedure, especially if you suffer from sensitive teeth. Lasers which are traditionally used to whiten teeth can make them even more sensitive and can feel painful during the procedure itself. A new technique called the Wy 10 Whitening Technique forgoes lasers and instead uses a natural, warm light and gel which raises the temperature in the mouth by five degrees, the optimum temperature to enhance the penetration by the gel inside the teeth. The temperature of the light is continuously regulated to ensure effective and pain-free whitening. This new procedure was devised by Dr Wyman Chan who wanted to find a less expensive and invasive way to whiten teeth without making them sensitive and painful. Since its launch an array of celebrities have flooded through Dr Chan's doors and he now counts all of Girls Aloud, Sugababe Heidi Range and Denise Van Outen among his long list of devotees. Clients can even relax and watch a film of their choice through special ‘film' goggles while waiting for the gel to take effect before leaving with a brand new pristine white smile, minus the discomfort.