The Asian market has always been a colourful place for fashion trends, and the latest craze is no less interesting, Japanese women are going mad for crooked smiles, known as the ‘yaeba’ or ‘double tooth’ look. Cosmetic dentists in Tokyo have been inundated with requests for treatment to crowd the teeth and attach temporary ‘mini-fangs’ to the canines, which is meant to give the women of Japan a more child-like appearance.

According to the New York Times, the procedure is designed to make women appear more youthful, and derives from the look that occurs when the baby teeth are prevented from erupting. Dr Emilie Zaslow, of Pace University, said that ‘The naturally occurring yaeba is because of delayed baby teeth, or a mouth that’s too small.’ Then, rather worryingly, she added ‘It’s this kind of emphasis on youth and sexualisation of young girls.’

In recent years, show business has displayed varying dental trends, who could overlook the gapped smiles of Madonna, or Georgia Jagger? And this new fashion also has its advocates; the snaggle-toothed grin of Kirsten Dunst is being splashed all over Facebook and Japanese TV, hailed as a trend-setter. It seems the pearly white smile of LA’s finest are out of style; California dentist Vincent Devaud is in favour of a deliberate dash of imperfection, saying ‘What makes a person desirable and attractive? It’s not the symmetry, it’s perfect imperfections.’

This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby has had invisible braces fitted in a bid to perfect her glowing smile.

The blonde bombshell showed off the new additions in a photograph uploaded to social networking website Twitter on Tuesday (June 7th).

Willoughby, who also appears on ITV2 panel show Celebrity Juice with Keith Lemon and best friend Fearne Cotton, revealed she will be wearing the braces for the next two months.

In the photograph, the mother of two's mouth accessory is barely noticeable, yet will work effectively to straighten crooked teeth.

Willoughby is not the first celebrity to get invisible braces in a bid to improve the appearance of their teeth.

Popstar to Operastar presenter Myleene Klass also opted for the dental treatment on her bottom teeth to perfect her smile.

The former Hear'Say member showed of her braces, which were fitted behind her pearly whites, during an appearance on This Morning last year.

Older teenagers or adults who require cosmetic dentistry treatment may find that visiting an Invisalign dentist for invisible braces is ideal.

While visible braces are fine for youngsters, adults and those in their late teens may find such options leave them self-conscious of their teeth, but there are alternatives in the cosmetic dentistry sector.

OrthoPros noted that "teens don't want to stand out" and said that according to a national poll, more than half of teens aged 12 to 17 thought metal braces would draw unwanted attention to themselves.

The group highlighted Invisalign braces – which have no wires or brackets and only require adjusting every couple of months – as a great alternative to avoid making brace wearers feel uncomfortable.

Those considering Invisalign treatment can carry out a self-assessment on the company's website to see whether visiting an Invisalign dentist to have the clear brace option fitted is advisable for them.

Justin Bieber must certainly have one of the biggest teen fan bases of any star – and now his most loyal fans can keep their invisible braces clean with a new themed toothbrush.

Toothbrush brand Brush Buddies has released a new line of Justin Bieber toothbrushes, available in both adult and child sizes. One of the toothbrushes in the range even plays a Bieber tune for the two minutes brushing time recommended by dental experts, ensuring children clean their invisible braces for the correct amount of time.

For teeth care and invisible brace cleaning on the go, the Justin Bieber Oral Care Travel Kit could be ideal – this kit contains a brush, a tongue scraper, some Bieber-themed floss and a timer to ensure the optimum two minutes' cleaning is carried out.

Bieber hails from Canada and shot to fame after posting videos of himself singing on the internet. He has previously worked with rapper Ludacris and is currently in Australia on a world tour.
 

The majority of young adults would consider undergoing orthodontic treatment – such as wearing Invisalign braces – to improve their smile, a new survey has found.

Research carried out by the Orthodontic Society of Ireland (OSI) revealed that 63 per cent of young adults would contemplate having treatment to improve the alignment of their teeth.

Findings also discovered that 48 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds questioned were unhappy with their teeth when they smiled, Irish Health reported.

Although orthodontic treatment is usually associated with children, an increase in the number of celebrities who wear invisible braces appears to have had an effect on public opinion of the procedures.

Of the people questioned, 42 per cent felt the treatment would benefit their appearance, while 21 per cent believed having straighter teeth would increase self confidence.

Celebrities such as Cheryl Cole, Justin Bieber and Tom Cruise have admitted to undergoing orthodontic treatment to straighten their teeth.

Singer and X Factor judge Cheryl Cole reportedly wears Invisalign braces at night to keep her dazzling teeth straight.

A source close to the Girls Aloud star revealed that she has been wearing the invisible braces at night to keep her teeth straight as she nervously awaits the news about whether she will be a judge on the American version of the TV talent show.

The Daily Star also reported that Cole will receive more teeth whitening treatments upon her return to Los Angeles in a bid to perfect her smile for her rumoured new job.

After admitting to wearing invisible braces in the past, the 27-year-old style icon has undergone a number of cosmetic dental procedures to give her a dazzling Hollywood smile.

The Daily Express revealed that Cole has the most requested smile in the country, with cosmetic dentists regularly performing procedures to create a similar pearly-white and glamorous look. 

Cosmetic dentistry procedures such as teeth whitening and clear braces have become more popular among women looking to gain the perfect smile, an expert has claimed.

An increase in celebrities such as Justin Bieber and Tom Cruise spotted wearing clear braces appear to have removed the stigma surrounding the idea that only children should wear braces, with more people than ever opting for the method of teeth-straightening, according to orthodontist Dr Robert Rudman.

Recent figures have shown that the number of female patients seeking correctional procedures has increased in the US, with the American Dental Association reporting to the Digital Journal that 25 per cent of all patients are adults.

Dr Rudman recently acknowledged the increase in adult patients receiving oral treatment in present times, and stressed the benefits of braces and the boost to the patient's confidence.

He said: "More and more adults, particularly women, are coming into my office motivated to make the changes they have been wanting for a long time."

Other celebrity brace-wearers include actress Dakota Fanning, Gwen Stefani and Australian songstress Delta Goodrem.  

Having cosmetic dentistry could help people to look younger than they are, according to one expert.

In an article for Marie Claire, Australian cosmetic dentist Dr Angelo Lazaris said it is surprising how much a person's smile can affect their perceived age.

"As we age our teeth darken, wear down and move out of alignment to become more crooked," he pointed out.

To prevent this, he recommended Invisalign braces, teeth whitening and, in more extreme cases, dental veneers.

Zoom whitening from an oral healthcare provider was suggested as one treatment people might like to try.

It may indeed be best to go to a professional in order to have teeth brightened up. Daily Mail writer Anna Maxted recently admitted she became addicted to DIY whitening kits and even used them to do the school run.

However, she has now damaged her tooth enamel and her gums permanently as a result of the strong chemicals contained within them.
 

Having dental implants fitted is sure to be better than wearing dentures, according to one oral healthcare specialist.

Dr Robbie Taylor, writing for the Daily News Journal, said they offer a much better fit and will also function better than traditional false teeth.

He pointed out that not only will they prevent slipping and jaw bone erosion, but they will also be able to provide 80 per cent of the biting force of real teeth, up from just 20 per cent with dentures.

"Most patients find it's a worthy investment. Talk to your dentist to see if you're a good candidate," Dr Taylor recommended.

Earlier this month, periodontics and implantology specialist Dr Robert Pearson told the Savannah Morning News that dental implants can now even be put in place around the delicate sinus areas.

He explained that technology has improved to such an extent that this is now an easy procedure.
 

People suffering from malocclusion could find that a visit to a dentist to talk about invisible braces is in order.

Writing for the Mirror, Miriam Stoppard explained that this is the medical term for a poor bite, when the teeth fail to meet at the back and slightly overlap at the front as perfect teeth do.

Instead, overcrowding or jaw shape could cause the teeth to become crooked, protrude significantly or overlap in an overbite.

"However, perfect teeth are rare and most people have some teeth that are out of position," Stoppard commented.

She pointed out that malocclusion often runs in families and said a specialist dentist may be able to help, particularly if it is causing problems with eating or speaking.

"If required, the teeth may be aligned using a brace," the expert commented.

Earlier this month, England rugby international Chris Ashton said in his Daily Mail column that he has been wearing invisible braces to correct his misaligned smile.