According to experts at the British Dental Foundation, people wanting to emulate their favourite celebrities with a pearly white grin should leave the job to the professionals, rather than purchasing a DIY kit and having a go themselves. Dental adviser for the BDF, Karen Coates, has commented that take-home products are not very effective and the procedure should be carried out by a qualified individual.

Ms Coates said that kits purchased over the counter from cosmetic stores and pharmacies contained less that 0.1% hydrogen peroxide, a tiny amount that couldn’t possible hope to break down deep staining. They can also put the teeth at risk of heightened sensitivity or enamel erosion, with sustained use. Professional grade whitening solutions contain much more bleach, in some cases upwards of 20%, but it wouldn’t be safe to allow to public to try the procedure on themselves; with such a high peroxide content, the potential for disaster is greater.

Ms Coates went on to talk about the kinds of things that could stain the enamel – even after a whitening treatment, naming curry, tea, coffee and red wine as the main culprits. She also added that if people would still rather carry out teeth whitening at home, they should make sure the product they select has the BDF’s logo on the packaging, which indicates that there are no harmful acids or abrasives inside.

St Helens winger Anthony Stewart has swapped the rugby pitch for rather more serene surroundings, by opening up his own cosmetic clinic in Billinge. The Cosmetic Body Clinic offers a range of non-surgical treatments, such as teeth whitening, Botox, semi-permanent make-up and natural skin peels, with discounted prices starting at £69 for tooth whitening.

The 32-year-old sportsman scored 56 dries during his rugby career and was a regular for The Saints from 1996 to 2004; he also represented Lancashire and played for Ireland. Anthony reasoned that rugby careers can often be fleeting, and he decided to turn his hand to the cosmetic industry, rather than facing early retirement. He was anxious to point out that the prices at The Cosmetic Body Clinic were affordable for customers from all walks of life, saying ‘Treatments… such as laser hair removal are quite expensive. The machines we have are more advanced and powerful, and are far cheaper.’

Referring to his former team mates, Anthony also added that they had been ‘supportive’ and some were taking advantage of the perks of knowing the boss, ‘A few have been in for a hot stone massage, ‘ he said, ‘and their wives have had their teeth whitened.’ The rugby star is no stranger to pampering himself now he’s off the field either, he said; ‘I have had a few things done myself, such as the teeth whitening, and my wife Dawn is trying to get me to have a skin peel, which I am thinking of doing, but I won’t use the slimming machine.’

After pictures recently surfaced in the press showing her stained, decaying teeth, it seems that Lindsay Lohan has decided to smarten up her image in the run up to her $1million Playboy photo shoot.

Lindsay was pictured at a red carpet event in LA at the beginning of October with brown stains on her teeth and dark areas that appeared to be decay setting in – although she didn’t seem too shy about displaying her smile to the waiting photographers. Showbiz websites were instantly rife with rumours about drug use and neglect, but Lindsay’s spokesperson was philosophical, saying that there are far too many serious problems in the world for reporters to be commenting on Lindsay’s teeth. Lindsay has just begun 400 hours of court mandated community service at an LA morgue.

With a fresh denial of drug use came a smile with a bit more sparkle, the Mean Girls actress underwent a Zoom! teeth whitening treatment that bleaches the stains and brightens dark enamel. Lindsay seemed to be delighted with the results, thanking Dr. Bill Dorfman – who appeared on popular US show Extreme Makeover – via her Twitter page, but complaining ‘My gums are so sore though!’

Although Lindsay’s keeping tight-lipped about any other procedures, there are those in the cosmetic dentistry world who are suggesting she has fixed her teeth with veneers or crowns, and not just a simple whitening treatment.

A blushing bride-to-be from York has won a teeth-whitening treatment at York’s Diamond Teeth Whitening clinic as part of an all-inclusive wedding prize courtesy of local paper The Press. 

Michelle Stannard and her fiance Adrian Elliott beat twenty other couples to win their dream wedding, which will take place in April 2012. The prize not only included a teeth-whitening session, but also covered the rest of the details too – venue, catering, clothing, flowers, and anything else you can think of. 

Thanks to a one-hour treatment with Diamond dentist Alex Keogh, Michelle will be able to dazzle her wedding guests with a brighter, whiter smile. She will also return for an additional session before the big day, to make sure her teeth really sparkle. The teeth whitening procedure uses a special gel, which is activated by a blue curing light, to break down any stains or discolouration on the teeth, leaving them looking polished and natural. Typically, these treatments are very successful, but can be expensive when provided by top industry surgeries.

Tooth whitener Alex was more than happy to give Michelle a new smile for her special day, saying; ‘Your wedding photos are the ones you keep forever, so it’s a one off chance to have a white smile in your wedding photos. Michelle’s teeth were very white to start with, so she went for four or five shades difference’.

Bonding has been recommended by one expert as an ideal way to restore teeth that have been damaged.

Writing for Round Town News, Karen Gardner explained how cosmetic dentistry techniques can transform a person’s smile.

She described bonding as a good way to disguise teeth that are not straight and to fill gaps between teeth or areas where they have worn away.

The dentist stated that the treatment is painless and requires no injections to produce a natural effect.

“Bonding is an established restorative technique that is increasingly popular. It is quite quick and painless, with superb results in just one visit,” Ms Gardner said.

She claimed that the procedure can also help to lighten gum lines that have not responded well to teeth whitening.

Dr Seah Yang How recently commented that seeking treatment for root canal problems as soon as possible can be beneficial in preventing pain later on, Asia One Health reported.

A new device for teeth whitening has been unveiled.

A new teeth whitening device has been unveiled that uses light to brighten a person’s smile.

The Beaming White Forever White Teeth Whitening Headset works by activating a hydrogen peroxide gel that the patient applies to their teeth. They then sit back and allow the 2.5 W LED-powered kit to do its work.

It presently costs $40 (£27.70) and this includes a 16 per cent hydrogen peroxide gel and the headset.

Furthermore, the headset comes equipped with a pair of earphones so users can listen to their favourite music while the treatment is carried out.

Elsewhere, Jim Arnold of Valpolife.com recently stated that more people will be looking to have teeth whitening treatments carried out this summer, as the hot weather will see many out to look their best and a beaming white smile can help to achieve this.

He added that the most popular choice for many will be to have professional teeth whitening treatments.

Summer months herald more teeth whitening for Brits.

More people will be looking to have teeth whitening treatments carried out this summer, it has been stated.

According to Jim Arnold of Valpolife.com, individuals often begin to think about brightening up their smile using teeth whitening treatments at this time of year and the fact this UK summer has been forecast to be especially warm and sunny could mean more people will look to do so.

Indeed, the most popular choice for many will be to have professional teeth whitening treatments carried out by a qualified dentist.

However, there are a number of excellent take-home teeth whitening kits that can provide good results also.

Meanwhile, Radio 1 DJ Fearne Cotton beat many Brits to the punch by already having her summer teeth whitening carried out last week.

She tweeted after the session: “After yesterday’s teeth whitening I can’t drink coffee. I’ve not gone a day without coffee for ten years, help.”

Tooth enamel not hurt by teeth whitening.

Brits planning to brighten their smile have been reassured that teeth whitening treatments will not damage their tooth enamel.

Jim Du Molin wrote in the Dental Practice Marketing and Management blog for the Wealthy Dentist that research published in the Journal of the American Dental Association showed that the effects of ten per cent carbamide peroxide – the active ingredient in most home teeth whitening kits – will cause no adverse effects to the teeth.

He stated: “This is excellent news, dispelling any notions that whitening yellow teeth through cosmetic dentistry can be bad for one’s oral health.”

Elsewhere, Cosmetic News Portal recently reported that individuals could be harming their teeth by using over-the-counter teeth whitening treatments that are too strong.

The news provider stated that it is a myth that it should be the case of the stronger the better when it comes to teeth whitening.

People have been advised on the best teeth whitening products.

Teethwhitening.org.uk has highlighted the range of teeth whitening treatments that are presently available to consumers and has stated that the best options depend upon the results that people wish to achieve.

It noted that in cases where discolouration is not overly pronounced then over-the-counter products can be the best choice, as they are often inexpensive yet successful.

For more severe cases, individuals are advised to seek out a dental professional to carry out the treatments, as they have access to stronger whitening gels and are trained in getting the best results.

Elsewhere, a blogger on Truth In Aging recently stated that people can effectively whiten their teeth simply through managing their oral health routine more effectively.

The unnamed individual stated that using teeth whitening toothpaste – and teeth whitening strips for problem areas – are effective when used daily.

People looking to improve the brightness of their smile have been advised that teeth whitening works.

People hoping to whiten their teeth using well-rounded oral health routine and the help of some whitening toothpaste can take heart that the method does work.

A blogger on Truth In Aging stated that she spends two minutes each night brushing her teeth using whitening toothpaste and targets difficult stains with teeth whitening strips.

“Afterward, my teeth seem more polished (due to sodium bicarbonate), protected (from attack by bacteria) and sparkling. Specific stains fade within a week and my oral hygiene appreciates the added step,” the unnamed blogger wrote.

However, she did advise not to be overly vigorous with whitening procedures, as sensitive gums can be extremely painful.

Elsewhere, the Chicago Tribune recently reported that individuals who suffer from asthma could use teeth whitening toothpaste to help tackle their symptoms.

The publication noted that these toothpastes contain saltpetre – a compound which was advised in the treatment of asthma and arthritis for many years.