Who doesn't want to flash a Hollywood smile?
As I discovered when I once tried on some joke teeth at Halloween, your gnashers can really alter your face.
You only have to look at celebs like Cheryl Cole before she hit the big time to see the difference your teeth can make.
But a brand new set of veneers or taking the plunge with braces isn't the only way to get a brilliant smile.
The girls aspiring to look like Lady Gaga on Bigger Than underwent teeth whitening to get that A-list sheen.
So I went along to the dental practice they visited, Ultrasmile* Dentristy, to try it out for myself. Could I really get a celebrity smile in just two hours?
THE TREATMENT
I had fairly white teeth to begin with and have always been confident about them, but some of my teeth have started to become a bit discoloured, largely thanks to the vats of tea I drink.
DIY whitening kits and gels never really made much difference, so I was prepared to give Ultrasmile*'s Zoom 3! whitening treatment a go.
Based a few minutes away from Bank in central London, the waterside surgery welcomes you with friendly staff and drinks while you fill out your medical form.
Dr. Thang, my dentist for the afternoon, explained exactly what the procedure would be before asking me to sit back in the chair: usually a thing of dread, but I knew there'd be no drilling today, so I was fairly relaxed.
They begin by making moulds of your teeth - if you have ever had braces or a retainer you'll know how this feels. Your mouth is full of gloop and it tests your gag reflex, but it's not uncomfortable; more about the moulds later.
The dentist pops in a mouth retractor to keep your teeth exposed for the treatment, which makes you look like an extra from a horror film. Then, cotton pads are applied to every bit of soft flesh around your mouth.
Your lips, gums and tongue are all covered to protect you from the UV light, needed to 'activate' the teeth whitening chemical. That's called Hydrogen Peroxide, if you're interested.
You're then given some orange aviator sunglasses to protect your eyes and you're all set, trussed up like Ali G in a wind tunnel.
The whitening gel is applied to your teeth and then the UV light is brought right close up to your mouth to do its magic. It feels a little like being plugged into an appliance. You can't move your head and it gets pretty warm, but at least you can swallow (I don't know about you, but that's one of my biggest fears about trips to the dentist - not being able to swallow).
After 15 minutes of zapping, the process starts over again. The application of gel and 15 minutes of UV light takes place three times in total and you're done.
It doesn't feel like it takes forever, but I did experience sensitivity throughout. Dr. Thang called them 'zingers', which are just tingling sensations. I didn't feel them painfully enough to ask him to stop, but if you do, they give you a pad and pen so you can still communicate.
THE VERDICT
So what were the results?
As you can see in the picture, there was an immediate change. It wasn't drastic and it's worth being realistic about what you expect from teeth whitening. You wouldn't want Simon Cowell's teeth anyway, would you?
I was given three more doses of whitening to take home with me to continue the treatment. And that's what the moulds are for - you squeeze the gel into each tooth pocket and pop them in overnight.
After using another dose of gel I noticed that my teeth became slightly whiter again, but it brought back the sensitivity I experienced in the first 24 hours after the treatment. I was told this may happen and not to worry, it would go away - which it did.
The biggest drawback of the treatment for me was no tea for 48 hours. I think it's the first time in my adult life I've ever had to endure no brew for that long. I'm now addressing my caffeine addiction.
Anything that stains your teeth should be avoided, so coffee and red wine lovers don't get off scott-free either.
THE INFO
If you're thinking about going for teeth whitening, there are some considerations to mull over first.
Dr. Thang says: "It is important to understand that tooth whitening with Peroxide is a tried, tested and safe procedure when carried out by a registered dental professional.
"Careful examination of the mouth is vital to ensure that problems such as tooth decay and gum disease are addressed before any whitening procedure and this can only be done under the supervision of a dentist.
"As with any tooth whitening procedure it is not recommended for children under 13 years of age. Beauticians offering whitening procedures are not dentally qualified to identify problems in the mouth and so should be avoided."
I tried the Zoom 3! Deluxe Whitening treatment, which costs £395.00 and includes whitening trays, in-surgery whitening treatment and one gel syringe. Oh and they gave me a brolly because it was raining. How sweet.
Some people are unsuitable for teeth whitening. This includes people with gum disease, tooth decay, sensitive teeth, allergy to Hydrogen Peroxide and people with crowns, implants and veneers which cannot be whitened and may cause shade differentiation in the mouth.
For more information about all of Ultrasmile's teeth whitening procedures, visit www.ultrasmile.co.uk
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And check out our dedicated Bigger Than... site for all the latest news and gossip, or to watch catch-up episodes online with Sky Go.
