Tips for Sparkly Whites

A glorious grin is something we all know can take you far. But with so many products out there, it can be confusing to know how to keep your pearly whites shining brightly.

Cosmetic dentist Dr. Justin Glaister has given us a mouthful of tips to improve your ivories.

1. Brush your teeth regularly. Whitening toothpastes can sometimes be a little abrasive, but are good for stain removal. Personally I use a regular Colgate fluoride toothpaste -- the most effective, I think. Try Colgate Whitening Flouride Toothpaste, or for that extra shine, opt for Pearl Drops Party Sparkle Whitening Toothpaste.

2. Teeth whitening home kits. A lot of the whitening kits on the market don't have enough active ingredient to change the body color of the teeth, but are effective for short-term stain removal. Try Rapid White Sensitive Formula Tooth Whitening 3-Stage Starter Kit.

3. Use dental floss. Flossing is as important or more important that anything else you can do for yor teeth. Up to 90 percent of the decay we see on people's teeth isn't actually on the surface of the tooth but inbetween the teeth where the toothbrush can't get in. Try Wisdom Dental Floss.

4. Dental teeth whitening treatments. These can be done at home using whitening trays or in the clinic using light systems. Treatments start at around $500 and are available at all cosmetic dental surgeries.

Final Tips
A healthy way to naturally clean teeth is to eat fruit and vegetables. Watch out for the citrus variety, such as grapefruit: Acid can be buffered by milk and cheese. For the more mature gums, TePe Interdental brushes are great and are available at almost all drug stores.