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TEETH
Forget fish 'n' chips and stiff upper lips. The defining quality that marks us out as bona fide Brits has to be the sorry state of our collective teeth. After all, would any nation other than this one have taken Ken Dodd and his lopsided incisors so readily to its heart?
While the UK's cosmetic dentistry industry may be nipping at America's heels and makeover shows have made the maintenance of one of our most prized beauty assets more socially acceptable, it seems we still have some way to go before we can shake off those deep-rooted dental hang-ups.
The findings of a recent survey showed that almost 60 percent of Britons feel down in the mouth about their smile, and that flashing a dazzling set of molars would help boost their confidence.
So how can you avoid ending up with a mouthful of gnashers that would rival Shane Macgowan's skew-whiff kerbstones and achieve a coveted, superstar beam - without having to fork out £2,500 per tooth on surgical treatments, as Victoria Beckham was rumoured to have done?
We spoke to one of our friends in a white coat to find out how you can buck the bad teeth trend and put the 'ping' back into your pearly whites.
Diet and lifestyle
It's no secret that smoking, bingeing on sugar-laden food and polishing off endless cups of coffee can wreak havoc with our toothy grins. Dr. Amit Mehta of Verne Dental Practice in North Shields warns of the dangers: "Cut back on sugary snacks between meals to prevent tooth decay, and reduce your caffeine intake to stop those tell-tale signs of discolouration setting in. It is also important to chew sugar-free gum after eating to stimulate saliva because it protects teeth and flushes away food."
Another top tip for perfecting a mega-watt smile is to follow a tooth-friendly, 'white teeth diet.' This involves swapping red wine for white, black coffee for the white variety and finishing a meal with a swig of milk to neutralise acid in your mouth.
Oral hygiene
It may seem like a no-brainer, but dentists recommend brushing teeth for three minutes twice a day to ward off plaque-causing bacteria. According to a recent survey, however, a staggering 88 percent of men admitted to not meeting this target.
Dr. Mehta says: "Brushing teeth with fluoride-based toothpaste is vital to keep gum disease and tooth decay at bay. We advise combining this routine with brushing your tongue, using a mouthwash and regular dental check-ups."
I floss therefore I am. That is the mantra we would all be chanting if dentists had their way. A deceptively low-tech, but much neglected technique for achieving healthy teeth and gums, the nifty floss cleans parts the humble toothbrush cannot reach, removing hard-to-shift plaque and food particles lodged between teeth. Ask your dentist or hygienist for a step-by-step guide to fool-proof flossing.
Tooth-whitening
No longer the preserve of celebrities and the super-rich, the market in teeth-lightening products has exploded in popularity in recent years, ranging from home kits to in-surgery procedures.
Boasting 800,000 clients worldwide and developed by a former NASA whiz, one of the leading methods available is BriteSmile. The state-of-the art system is offered by more than 200 dental professionals throughout the UK and promises glistening teeth in an hour.
Here comes the science bit: it works by applying a whitening gel to the teeth, which is activated by a safe, 'wavelength-matched' blue light. The effects claim to be almost instantaneous, and lighten teeth by up to eight shades. Check out britesmile.co.uk to find your nearest authorised surgery.
However effective these techniques may be, those in pursuit of the perfect smile should remember that non-surgical treatments can only go so far in enhancing what nature has blessed us with.
Urging people not to set themselves sky-high goals, Dr. Mehta says: "The positive outcome of the success of TV makeover shows is that patients with long-standing issues about the appearance of their teeth are now more willing to inquire about solutions to their cosmetic problems, whereas before they might have suffered in silence."
"Patients have started coming into the surgery with pictures of celebrities, saying, 'I want to look like this,'" he reveals. "But we have to ensure that their expectations are realistic and achievable. Unfortunately there is no miracle, quick-fix answer if you want great-looking teeth."
Words: Asha Mehta
Photography: John Stewardson
Make up/hair: Nadine Gibbons
Model: Hannah Cook and Eve Walter of Adage
Sunless glow
|
Pillar box pout
|
Necks
|
Surgery
|
Teeth
|
Make-up
|
Facelift alternatives
|
Problem features
