Up to $550 (£336) worth of teeth whitening strips have been stolen from a store in California.

According to the Palm Beach Post, a man was seen stealing ten boxes of teeth whitening strips from the store and was recorded on video, but it remains unclear as to how he fled the area.

An employee of the business flagged down a police officer and told him that the store had just been robbed, the publication noted.

The man had entered the store and pretended to have a gun in a plastic bag, when the clerk failed to open the cash register, the criminal ran for the door, grabbing the boxes of teeth whitening strips as he bolted.

Elsewhere, rumours recently surfaced that Hollywood actress Helena Bonham Carter took the prosthetic teeth of her character from the recent Harry Potter film.

"They won't fit anybody else's mouth anyway so I thought nobody would mind. I'll miss being a witch but at least with the teeth I can play at home," she told Showbiz Spy.
 

Individuals looking for excellent teeth whitening treatments in the Stockton area might be tempted to head along to Smile Spa where funds are being raised to help a local children's hospice.

The award-winning dental practice is in the process of raising charitable donations for Zoe's Place as part of its fifth anniversary celebrations, the Gazette Live reports.

"As a practice, we want to be involved in helping others around us – in our local community and in the wider world. So we have committed to raising money towards the cost of training one clinical officer," Dr Susan Andrews, clinical director at The Smile Spa, told the publication.

Meanwhile, a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology highlighted the fact that young people who smoke could be at a higher risk of developing oral health problems in later life.

The research, which was led by Professor Sisko Honkala from Kuwait University, comes after previous findings that cited peer pressure as the most important factor in adolescent smoking.
 

Image-conscious individuals contemplating teeth whitening procedures could be interested in recommendations from the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF).

According to the organisation's chief executive Dr Nigel Carter, limiting the consumption of coloured food and drink could be a natural method of protecting smiles.

His comments emerge after the Scottish Daily Herald reported actor James McAvoy had succumbed to Hollywood pressure and received cosmetic dentistry.

The X-Men star reportedly decided to get his teeth whitened and straightened, despite previous claims he was unwilling to change his appearance for his job.

Dr Carter insisted that before opting for such procedures, it is vital that people adopt an at-home routine to ensure overall oral health is maintained.

He recommended the use of fluoride toothpaste in a bid to remove often unsightly stains caused by smoking, red wine or coffee.

"Whitening toothpaste may also help the effect last, once your teeth have been professionally whitened," he added.

Dental professionals need to take more action to ensure the public continue to improve their oral health, experts have claimed.

The British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) has called for increased support from dentists to promote the benefits of healthy teeth and gums amid government cuts.

Following the organisation's success over the past 12 months, the BDHF has predicted that the ongoing recession could place pressure on campaign funds.

After spending £998,464 on oral health promotion last year, the foundation has called for alternative methods to continue its educational work.

Chief executive Dr Nigel Carter said: "There is growing concern that the economic slow-down is affecting oral health promotion and putting hard won improvements over recent years at risk."

Yesterday (June 14th), the BDHF announced the end of this year's National Smile Campaign, which aimed to educate people of varying ages about the benefits of oral hygiene.

As part of the scheme, the foundation urged medical professionals to get involved to encourage healthier teeth and gums throughout their local towns.

Teeth whitening treatment has been named the fastest growing cosmetic industry by dental experts.

Statistics from the Association of Cosmetic Tooth Whitening reveal that the popularity of the procedure has risen ten per cent year on year, the Press and Journal reports.

Dental professionals have noted a significant shift in the numbers of people attending appointments for cosmetic reasons as opposed to medical in recent years.

This comes after the General Dental Council called for tougher regulations for unqualified practitioners performing tooth whitening procedures.

Cosmetic dentist Dr Jonathan Wu said: "A good dentist will find out how white you'd like your teeth and then check the health of your teeth and gums, so potential problems can be predicted."

National Smile Month, which got underway yesterday (May 15th), aims to educate people about the importance of good oral hygiene.

The scheme, which runs until June 15th, offers advice on healthy eating and effective methods of tooth care to people who are conscious about their smile. 

Teeth whitening is a procedure on "everyone's wish list", it has been noted in a poll of cosmetic dentists.

According to an American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry survey published on DrBicuspid.com, the popularity of teeth whitening procedures has been on the rise and they look likely to remain a common choice for people in 2011.

Dental assistant and clinical editor at CPS magazine Shannon Pace Brinker said that in her practice, the cosmetic dentists are "doing more whitening than ever before" and that over the past year, she has carried out more than 400 teeth whitening treatments.

The poll showed that teeth whitening is particularly popular among women, with 65 per cent of people who had the treatment last year being female, the poll revealed.

Orthodontist Dr Didier Fillion recently told the Evening Standard of the benefits of cosmetic dentistry and commented that "society judges by appearance". One of his most high-profile clients is future wife of Prince William, Kate Middleton.  

People who are looking to undergo tooth whitening have been told to ensure they visit a fully-licensed practitioner.

This warning comes after the New Zealand Ministry of Health launched an investigation into unregistered firms that are carrying out the procedure down under, TV NZ reports.

The decision to look into the existence of bogus or "cowboy" companies comes after a woman suffered burning gums, which had also turned partially white, after she visited an unlicensed establishment.

However, the person in question escaped punishment because they were not official health professionals, which has led to increased calls for the industry to be more tightly regulated.

The country's Environmental Risk Authority has discussed the possibility of banning the use of hydrogen peroxide that is stronger than 3.6 per cent by unregistered practitioners.

Meanwhile, a dentist in Bristol has warned those who are seeking teeth whitening services to avoid bogus firms, after an apparent surge in the number of unknown companies offering discount rates in the UK.

Teeth whitening treatments can give those who undergo the procedure a greater level of self confidence, an expert has claimed.

With the popularity of the painless treatment currently on the rise, cosmetic dermatologist Dr Cristin Dowd has explained the positive effects teeth whitening can have on a person's self belief.

Research has suggested that most people make the decision to have whitening treatments to improve their appearance and subsequently make themselves feel more attractive, according to Michael Colucci, an author for Teeth Whitening Tips in an article published on ezinarticles.com.

Mr Colucci said the painless nature of the procedure is another factor which adds to the popularity of this particular type of cosmetic dentistry.

AboutCosmeticDentistry.com also found teeth whitening procedures to minimise the appearance of wrinkles on ageing skin, making it an effective option for older people who want to maintain their young appearance.

The treatment can have a positive effect on teeth that are not naturally white, as well as combat stains caused by smoking, and colourful beverages such as tea, coffee and wine. 

People hoping to launch a career in Hollywood might want to indulge in teeth whitening treatment.

Gregg Sulkin, the 18-year-old British actor who is being hailed as the next Zac Effron, told the Express that Americans like their film and TV personalities to look really clean-cut and fresh-faced.

They do love straight white teeth and they seem to love my British accent too," the Avalon High star commented.

He added that he has been amazed with his sudden rise to stardom across the pond, as he once wanted to be a footballer and hadn't even considered acting when he was snapped up by the Disney Channel.

Sulkin may have to use teeth whitening treatment to keep his pearly whites gleaming, as he explained that Disney "has a very clean image and morality clauses".

Last month, dentist Yusuf Kaderbha told Cosmetic Dentistry Guide that people should avoid DIY methods of whitening such as baking soda and see a dentist instead.
  

Comedy actor Simon Pegg has revealed that he has experienced the benefits of teeth whitening treatment first-hand.

The self-confessed nerd told the Metro that he was able to get his teeth brightened before he filmed Hot Fuzz.

"That was because [Pegg's character] Nicholas Angel needed to look like a model cop," he explained.

However, Pegg has not been quite so lucky in the glamour stakes when it comes to his new film Burke and Hare, in which he plays one of the 19th century murderers.

He revealed he spent his 40th birthday filming a filthy execution scene in which he stood at the gallows amid lots of mist and cattle while waiting for Bill Bailey to pull the lever.

Pegg is now based in Los Angeles, so perhaps he may get the chance to play a more groomed part again soon.

Earlier this month, Philip Schofield said on This Morning that he was left needing teeth whitening after going on a wine-tasting trip.