How to get a Hollywood smile on a budget

Many of us hate the colour of our teeth and it even stops some of us from smiling.

It doesn’t help that along with their extensive glam squad budgets, celebrities have plenty of resources to get the perfect smile, and so brilliant white teeth have become much more associated with looking good.

But teeth whitening, which was once an expensive upgrade requiring a trip to the dentist, has become a lot more accessible to us mere mortals, and it’s no longer necessary to spend hundreds of pounds to improve your smile.

“We recently did some research in the UK and found that 77 per cent of British people aren’t happy with the colour of their teeth and for over a quarter (26 per cent) this even stops them from smiling,” Jordan Kirk, White Glo’s dental expert, tells us. “It’s surprising when there are effective methods available on the high street which really do work.”

Now you can choose from teeth whitening toothpastes, toothbrushes, kits, strips, or even activated charcoal to give your smile a makeover.

“Everyone is going to have different preferences when it comes to their favourite products,” Jordan continues. “Depending on whether you’re looking for instant results or you would prefer to see a gradual shade improvement with longer lasting results, there are so many products to choose from, it won’t be difficult to find one which suits you.”

Read on for our tips for a mouth makeover.

Whitening toothpaste

An everyday whitening toothpaste like White Glo Professional Whitening Toothpaste is the first step to whiter teeth as they usually contain mild abrasives such as calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate, which help remove surface stains. Jordan suggests choosing a toothpaste which has low levels of hydrogen peroxide, as it will provide similar results to what dentists achieve.

Whitening kit

Whitening kits add an additional boost to a standard whitening toothpaste, but do choose one which is going to be safe and give good results. Hydrogen peroxide is ok in an everyday toothpaste, but it’s best avoided when using products which are going to be in contact with your teeth for a prolonged period of time. White Glo’s Diamond Series kits are peroxide free and offer results within a week.

Activated charcoal

Activated charcoal is a celebrity favourite well worth the hype thanks to its natural ability to draw out stubborn stains and detoxify the mouth. Incorporating charcoal will trap colour particles and help whiten teeth enamel. Diamond Whites’ Black Edition range features toothpaste, polish and mouthwash.

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Whitening strips

Teeth whitening strips are for those short on time and looking for a quick boost before a party or social event. Hydrogen peroxide is a key ingredient as the strips are on your teeth for such a short time. Make sure to choose a product with no more than 6 per cent of it, otherwise it can become damaging to the mouth. White Glo’s Bright Nights strips have 5.5 per cent hydrogen peroxide and dissolve within minutes to leave a sparkling set of teeth.