We all know that one of the risks of tea, coffee and red wine drinking and smoking is that we might end up with stained teeth, but let’s face it – most of us still partake of at least one of these everyday habits.

Having shiny, pearly white teeth has become standard amongst celebrities and the young and beautiful, but teeth whitening procedures can be costly and generally involve the use of unpleasant, chemical-based products. So are there any natural ways to improve the appearance of your teeth that don’t involve a huge expenditure and utilise pure ingredients?

Brushing the teeth with strawberry pulp is one method of removing dental discolouration. Strawberries contain malic acid, which will remove staining over time and improve the appearance of your teeth. However, be aware that the sugar and acid in this juicy fruit could do damage to the enamel if you use the method too often, and to be on the safe side it is not a good idea to use strawberry pulp more than once a fortnight.

Baking Soda is an abrasive that can be used to remove plaque from the teeth, leaving them looking bright and shiny. Once again, however, too much use of an abrasive agent could leave you at risk of enamel damage.

Lemon juice and peroxide both contain bleaching agents. However, lemon juice is extremely acidic and peroxide surely tastes awful. It should be stressed that you have to be extremely careful when using peroxide solution and this is a definite ‘no’ for someone with sensitive teeth, gums or skin.

Probably the most appealing whitening method, therefore, is to use a paste of sage leaf and salt, combining abrasive action with a natural whitener. Sage is an ingredient in some of the manufactured whitening products on the market and is not too unpleasant in flavour.

Finally, remember that there is no substitute for regular, thorough toothbrushing with a good paste and the daily use of dental floss.

Avoiding tea, coffee, red wine and cigarettes will always help, as will eating raw vegetables and apples and drinking water after meals to flush the mouth through between brushing. In time you’ll be well on the way to a Hollywood smile without having to resort to drastic measures.

Rhian Gibbings

Once I opened the box, it all seemed a lot easier than I had imagined. There was nothing to mix or pour or apply from a tube. The trays are already filled with the correct amount of whitener and individually sealed in sets of two marked “upper” and “lower”.

The tray itself was softer than I had expected. The trick is to find a good time to spend 30-45 minutes with the tray in your mouth. But wearing it was not uncomfortable, as long as you weren’t trying to give someone a detailed explanation of quantum physics. Talking isn’t easy with anything in your mouth so watch TV, play a video game or surf the net while you whiten. The time goes by fairly quickly that way.

The taste was subtly minty, nothing overwhelming or tingly like having toothpaste in your mouth for half an hour.

Results are supposed to be visible in three days. It may be my imagination or wishful thinking but I thought I could see a slight brightening after the first treatment. I hope to see some real improvement by the end of the third treatment.

Holiday time means old friends and family will get together and someone will take out a camera. Before you flash them your best holdiay smile, be sure it’s your whitest one.

Whitening teeth used to be something only your dentist could do and treatments could be costly. With the advent of home use products and do-it-yourself kits, even bleaching your teeth has become easy and inexpensive.

I have tried a few different products and know people who have used some other types of tooth whitening products. I don’t mind the brush-on gels, it’s not really hard to keep your mouth open for 30 seconds and they seem to begin working right away. They are probably the least costly of the popular methods and interfere least with your lifestyle. They are of moderate effectiveness, lightening teeth by one to three shades.

I can’t say I particularly like the products you put into a tray that fits around your teeth and have to keep in your mouth for 30 minutes. This is like having impression molds taken at the dentist, except it is a much longer time period and you cannot talk, eat or drink during that time.

One of the most convenient and popular whitening products is Crest Whitestrips. The flexible strips are applied to the teeth twice a day for 14 days, again for 30 minutes at a time but are more comfortable than the mouth trays. They have a good reputation for providing effective whitening.

Shop for Tooth Whiteners at your Beauty Store