It can boost your self-confidence, make you look years younger and give you the winning smile you’ve always craved. So it’s hardly surprising that millions of us fork out huge amounts of money every year in pursuit of perfect pearly-whites.
Surveys show about 40 per cent of those under 35 in the UK regularly have their teeth whitened, and the industry is currently worth some £40 million a year.
But with dentists charging up to £1,000 for a course of treatment – and many people waiting months to see an NHS dental hygienist – demand for DIY over-the-counter bleaching kits is soaring.
Dentists even warn that some people are suffering serious injuries from rogue whitening kits bought online, some of which have been found to have 500 times the legal amount of bleaching agent in them.
‘I’ve had patients come into my surgery with chemical burns on their gums after using these kits,’ says Dr Ben Atkins, a dentist in Manchester and spokesperson for the Oral Health Foundation.
But how do you safely navigate the complex maze of whitening remedies that are available, to make sure you get the results you want without coming to any harm in the process?
Surveys show about 40 per cent of those under 35 in the UK regularly have their teeth whitened, and the industry is currently worth some £40 million a year
And what are the foods and drinks you really need to avoid to keep your teeth gleaming?
Here, The Mail on Sunday has teamed up with some of the UK’s dental experts to create the ultimate guide to achieving the perfect smile.
YOU CAN STILL ENJOY COFFEE, IF YOU PICK THE RIGHT BEAN
Coffee – along with tea and red wine – is always near the top of the list of tooth-staining culprits. But new research shows it may depend which type of bean you choose.
A study last year in the American Journal of Dentistry, by scientists from South Korea, found consumers who opted for coffee made with robusta beans, grown mainly in Vietnam, Indonesia and parts of Africa, are less likely to get brown teeth than those drinking arabica coffee, which mainly comes from South and Central America.
Researchers believe the reason may be that robusta coffee beans are less acidic – higher acidity softens tooth enamel, making it easier for staining agents to bond to it.
Regardless of the bean though, experts advise that we should always rinse with water after drinking a coffee.
‘If it can stain your mug, it can stain your smile – so chase your coffee or wine with water,’ says Shiv Pabary, a dentist in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
There are also changes that can be made to reduce the risk of staining.
Research shows that iced coffee is less likely to lead to discolouration than hot coffee. And a 2022 study in the European Journal of Dentistry found that adding milk can help, as it gets in the way of the bonding process between the pigments and tooth surface.
Experts advise that you should always rinse with water after drinking a coffee
‘Adding milk will help to dilute the tea or coffee so will help a bit,’ says Cheshire-based dentist Dr Hannah Kinsella, creator of online whitening brand Icy Bear Dental. ‘But, obviously, the more tea and coffee you drink, the bigger the risk of staining.’
Interestingly, experts say there is a simple way to avoid red wine stains.
‘Finish with a small glass of white,’ says Toby Hancock, a dentist in Chichester, West Sussex.
‘The tannins in red will be dissolved by the mild acid in the white – it’s the same logic behind getting rid of red wine carpet stains.’
EAT PLENTY OF PINEAPPLE… BUT AVOID SOY SAUCE
Eating pineapple regularly could help to whiten teeth, a recent study in the American Journal of Dentistry shows.
Researchers from Loma Linda University in California rubbed teeth in the lab with pineapple core for five minutes every day for ten days and found it was almost as good as the whitening products used in DIY bleaching kits.
Pineapple contains the enzyme bromelain, which is widely used in whitening toothpastes as it breaks down surface stains on teeth. But the fruit is also acidic – which is bad for tooth enamel – so experts say anyone trying it should rinse with water after eating.
‘Foods like pineapple and even strawberries can help to whiten teeth,’ says Dr Kinsella. ‘But the acid in them makes the enamel softer and more susceptible to erosion and staining.’
Dr Hannah Kinsella, creator of online whitening brand Icy Bear Dental, says foods like pineapple and even strawberries can help to whiten teeth, but the acid in them makes the enamel softer and more susceptible to erosion and staining
Meanwhile, research has also found that soy sauce is particularly bad for teeth. The condiment is much more likely to lead to unsightly brown teeth than other ingredients, reveals a study by Seoul National University in South Korea, published in the journal Odontology. This is because it contains chemicals called chromogens, which are known to stain teeth.
However, soy sauce is not the only condiment to cause this issue. Dr Kinsella adds: ‘Even tomato sauce can lead to a build-up of stains over time.’
SONIC TOOTHBRUSHESTHAT CAN BLAST AWAY THE STAINS
A high-tech electric toothbrush could be key in the fight against stained teeth.
Known as sonic toothbrushes, the devices generate sound waves to make the bristle vibrate and move hundreds of times faster than a manual brush.
Last week, the consumer website Good Housekeeping judged the Spotlight Oral Care Sonic Toothbrush, which costs about £72, as the best on the market for successfully removing plaque, reducing staining and freshening breath’.
Pineapple contains the enzyme bromelain, which is widely used in whitening toothpastes as it breaks down surface stains on teeth. But the fruit is also acidic – which is bad for tooth enamel – so experts say anyone trying it should rinse with water after eating
Experts say other – more affordable – options are effective too. ‘I use a Philips one which uses sonic vibration to remove staining,’ says Dr Atkins. ‘I was quite sceptical at first, but people started to say how much whiter my teeth looked.’
Much cheaper, but potentially less effective options, are manual toothbrushes infused with charcoal, which studies show can scrub some stubborn stains off teeth. Charcoal toothbrushes include the Colgate Max White Ultra Manual Toothbrush, £5, and the Wisdom Active Whitening Charcoal Toothbrush Medium, £2.99.
However, more research is needed to ascertain their effectiveness.
BEWAR – WHITENING CROWNS MAY MAKE THEM EVEN WORSE
Using whitening products on artificial teeth can have the opposite effect.
This is because crowns, fillings and veneers are all made from non-porous materials which the whitening agents cannot penetrate.
Instead, the bleaching materials run off into surrounding teeth – making them even whiter, while the artificial teeth remain the same colour, leaving a noticeable difference in colour.
‘Many people bleaching their teeth don’t realise, or have simply forgotten, that they have crowns or veneers,’ says endodontist Shalini Kanagasingam, from the school of medicine and dentistry at the University of Lancashire.
‘When it doesn’t work, they keep applying more and more whitener.’
Experts say that patients should be wary of illegal or overly strong whitening kits bought online. In the UK, anything with more than 0.1% hydrogen peroxide is not allowed to be sold over the counter, as it can burn the gums.
Mouthwashes such as Corsodyl are powerful weapons against oral diseases such as gum disease, or inflammation of the gums, but they can also stain teeth if used too frequently
They also advise patients to look closely at the ingredients on the packaging, as whitening kits should not contain chlorine dioxide or sodium chlorite – two bleaching agents that can permanently damage the teeth and gums.
Experts also warn that whitening kits should not be used more than once every six to 12 months.
‘I’ve known patients who have ended up doing it every few weeks,’ says Ms Kanagasingam. This is not advised because overuse of the powerful chemical can damage the dental pulp – the soft tissue inside the tooth that houses the nerves and blood vessels needed to keep it healthy.
…AND GO EASY ON THE STRONG MOUTHWASH
Mouthwashes such as Corsodyl are powerful weapons against oral diseases such as gum disease, or inflammation of the gums. But they can also stain teeth if used too frequently.
Most antibacterial mouthwashes contain a potent antiseptic called chlorhexidine digluconate, which kills harmful bacteria in the mouth. In most cases, it takes about four weeks of use to get gums healthy.
But chlorhexidine digluconate can turn healthy-looking teeth an unsightly rust colour, especially if you drink a lot of tea, coffee or red wine while using it.
The chemical not only tints teeth but helps the pigments in these drinks to bond with the tooth enamel.
Ordinary breath-freshening mouthwashes are fine – such as Aquafresh Complete Care, £3.99 – as they don’t contain it.
Dr Atkins says: ‘I always recommend to my patients that they only use mouthwashes that contain chlorhexidine for as short a time as possible.’
What’s the truth about purple toothpaste fads?
Several years ago, dental care giant Colgate launched its first purple toothpaste, which it claimed led to an ‘instantly whiter smile’.
A number of other firms have since followed suit with their own purple pastes. However, experts say these do not, in fact, whiten the teeth.
This is because purple toothpaste – such as Colgate Max White Purple Reveal, £3 – uses something called colour theory to achieve a gleaming smile.
The idea is that the purple pigment temporarily coats the teeth and neutralises any yellow tones, making them appear whiter but without actually removing any staining. But the effects may only last a few hours.
In 2023, Which?, the consumer product review company, concluded that purple toothpastes ‘stretch the boundaries of what whitening traditionally means’. Instead, experts recommend trying a toothpaste that contains baking soda.
The ingredient works as an abrasive, scrubbing unwanted stains off the tooth surface.
Last month, Which? announced that Arm & Hammer Advance White Pro Baking Soda Toothpaste, £3.50, is the best whitening toothpaste currently on the market.