People contemplating teeth whitening treatment to improve their bright smiles should use a toothbrush with a round tip for effective cleaning, an expert has claimed.

Periodontologist Professor Robin Seymour advised members of the public to make use of soft bristles in order to improve oral hygiene.

According to the Dentyl Active spokesman, toothbrushes with hardened bristles could damage the protective layer of enamel and lead to painful sensitivity.

Professor Seymour stated that the most effective types of teeth cleaning equipment enable users easy access to all areas of the mouth.

He added: "Electric or powered toothbrushes do have an important role to play in regular plaque removal. They are particularly useful in reaching the difficult tooth surfaces."

This advice comes after a survey by Wrigley revealed that 94 per cent of people forget to take care of their oral health after eating dinner.

Conducted to mark the start of the British Dental Health Foundation's National Smile Month campaign, the study also showed that only nine per cent of participants were willing to discuss their oral health with friends.

People looking to enhance their pearly smiles could try teeth whitening procedures to increase their confidence.

However, an American dentist has warned patients of the damage that could be caused by excessive use of bleaching procedures.

Speaking to ABC News, Dr Ira Handschuh advised people to seek medical attention if they wish to receive safe teeth-whitening treatment by reducing health risks.

The New York dental expert claimed that high quantities of Carbamide peroxide, found in most bleaches, can irritate the gums and cause them to recede.

Overuse of the substance could also lead to the teeth becoming chalky and translucent at the edges, which highlights the importance of receiving the treatment from a trained practitioner.

Dr Handschuh said: "The media has done a good job of making whitening sound innocuous, but it's not."

This news comes after recent reports revealed that American people spend $1.4 billion (£859 million) on over-the-counter teeth-whitening products per year.

It is worthwhile seeking out the guidance of dental healthcare professionals when considering teeth whitening, as there are risks associated with making poor decisions.

While many internet and pharmacy-bought kits may be much cheaper than going to a treatment centre, the end result is sufficiently different to warrant paying more.

According to the Daily Mirror's Miriam Stoppard, professionals will apply a special teeth whitening gel and explain exactly what to do in the weeks following an appointment.

In her view, it is definitely worthwhile spending more money, as the treatment will be done with the patient's teeth in mind, rather than simply being a standard application from a box.

Ms Stoppard added: "Some online treatments, supplied from abroad (don't be fooled by a co.uk address!) may contain illegally high concentrations of bleach that may permanently damage the tooth enamel."

Last month, BBC News reported that the General Dental Council called for new legislation regulating who is able to carry out tooth whitening operations in the UK.

People contemplating improving their smiles with teeth whitening treatment should avoid visiting high street clinics, experts have suggested.

Addressing an increase in beauty salons and high street establishments offering the procedure, the General Dental Council (GDC) warned patients about the possibility of untrained practitioners.

Patients should seek professional treatment from an appropriately qualified practitioner to avoid the development of associated health risks, according to the GDC.

Dentist Graeme Tattersfield from Thornhill Dental Practice told the Dewsbury Reporter that members of the public should attend a reputable surgery when undergoing teeth whitening.

He said: "Even though whitening may appear a simple procedure, people need to ensure that the person is a trained dental professional."

This news comes after the GDC prosecuted a non-registered practitioner for performing teeth whitening procedures in Warrington.

Paul Hill was fined £6,765 after pleading guilty to four charges during an appearance at Westminster Magistrates Court.

People seeking teeth whitening services have been warned of the health risks associated with visiting providers who have not been given suitable training.

Angela Pierce, president of the SA Dental Association, said individuals who try to save money by not using a qualified dentist may suffer from teeth damage, the Herald Sun reports.

"We're seeing more and more people come in with more problems with industrial use of teeth bleachers," she remarked, adding that cheap prices will generally indicate that a "bargain basement service" is being provided.

Ms Pierce made the comments after Felecia Williams, a customer at a beauty treatment salon in Adelaide, said she felt "instant pain" when she was given a teeth whitening treatment by an untrained beautician and was left unable to brush her teeth for a month.

Spokesman for the British Dental Association Stuart Johnston recently told the Guardian that teeth whitening procedures need to be carried out by a dentist in order to guarantee safety.

Increasing numbers of Irish men are using Botox to get ahead in their professional careers, an expert has remarked.

Trained practitioners have noted a rise in the average age of people opting for the anti-wrinkle injection, the Irish Examiner reports.

Aisling Holly, managing director of cosmetic surgery firm The Hospital Group, noted an increased trend in people aged in their mid-30s undergoing the procedure.

Many male professionals are finding it difficult to progress in their careers with competition from younger candidates, Ms Holly remarked.

With the cosmetic surgery industry currently an unregulated market, experts have called for the introduction of tougher controls.

Ms Holly said: "We're aware of some quite dubious practices that can flourish in an unregulated environment as companies prioritise profits ahead of patient welfare."

People contemplating Botox treatment should ensure they are treated by a reputable and qualified practitioner to prevent any medical complications.

A dentist in Birmingham has been struck off the medical register after fitting dental veneers on children in order to make money.

Stuart Elliot Johnstone was found guilty of dishonestly carrying out treatment on young people between April 2005 and June 2007, Dentistry.co.uk reports.

The General Dental Council (GDC) heard that Mr Johnstone had carried out the cosmetic dentistry on 11 patients for financial gain, with one aged eight years old.

In some cases patients were given dental veneers despite decaying teeth, the court heard, with one woman's life being put at risk due to the development of an infection.

The GDC said [to the dentist]: "You were in a position of trust towards your patients and the public. You abused that trust.

"For all these reasons, the committee places this case high in the scale of dishonesty."

Dental veneers are a popular type of cosmetic dental treatment, during which a trained practitioner fits laminates to the front of existing teeth to improve a person's smile. 

Dental patients who are contemplating London teeth whitening could be interested to hear that dietary habits can have an impact on oral health, according to an expert.

Consumption of high levels of acid, which is found in energy drinks and wine, could cause erosion of the teeth's protective layer of enamel.

Professor Robin Seymour, a peridontologist and spokesperson for Dentyl Active, addressed a link between modern diets and an increase in dental health problems.

He stated that consuming food and drink containing high levels of acid "causes a chemical loss of minerals to the tooth enamel, causing it to erode".

However, eating some foods could prove to be beneficial to overall oral health, Professor Seymour remarked.

Diets containing antioxidants and omega-3 oils are found to offer protection to the gums from harmful bacterial plaque.

The importance of a healthy smile has been highlighted by the British Dental Health Foundation.

Results from a recent survey conducted by the organisation revealed that 56 per cent of respondents think a nice smile is the most attractive quality in a prospective partner.

People interested in receiving London teeth whitening treatment could be happy to hear that British people reportedly have more genuine smiles than Americans.

Psychologist Dacher Keltner has uncovered a number of distinct differences between the way people from the US and UK look when they are happy, Dentistry.co.uk reports.

During a study, Mr Keltner revealed that participants were able to identify the difference between the two because the British smile looked more difficult to fake.

British people tend to expose their teeth when they smile, as well as raise their cheeks to expose crow's feet around the eyes.

However, their American counterparts stretch the corners of the mouth more by parting their lips.

This news comes after a survey by the British Dental Health Foundation revealed that people find a smile to be the most attractive feature in the opposite sex.

Conducted to celebrate the start of the National Smile Month campaign, the study found that 56 per cent of people viewed the feature as the most important in a potential partner.

Strict regulations should be placed upon teeth whitening practitioners to ensure patient safety, the General Dental Council (GDC) has claimed.

Calling for tougher controls, the organisation has put forward proposals to ensure those performing the procedure are appropriately trained, BBC News reports.

This comes after an increase in the number of people choosing to undergo the treatment in high streets and shopping centres in a bid to save money.

Chief executive of the GDC Evlynne Gilvarry warned people contemplating having their teeth whitened that the procedure should be carried out in a clean and hygienic environment by a professional.

She said: "Over the last few years we have received hundreds of complaints from the public and dental professionals about poor tooth whitening."

Meanwhile, the popularity of teeth whitening procedures in America has been highlighted after figures from the American Institute of Cosmetic Dentistry revealed £1.4 billion (£846 million) is spent on the procedure annually, Stylecaster reports.