The issue: Our teeth are starting to resemble our Great Aunt Doris who smoked a ten pack for a decade and had a particular penchant for red wine mixed with diet coke. In short, they're not looking so hot.
The aim: To get teeth so pearly white they basically glow in the dark.
The solution: Go to the pros.
Which is why we've gathered not one, but three experts in the field to answer your questions on how to whiten teeth.
First up, celebrity dentist Dr Richard Marques, or The King Of Smiles to his friends.
Next, bringing the pro teeth whitening panel to a grand total of three, are professional dentists and sisters Dr Lisa and Vanessa Creaven.
Let's get this teeth whitening show on the road!
'Yellow teeth can be something you are genetically born with, or it can develop over time,' says Dr Richard.
'The main thing that causes yellowing of teeth is staining from smoking, black tea, black coffee and red wine. Yellowing can also be caused by the wearing of the enamel, which is generally whiter, and is caused by acids (such as those in fizzy drinks), teeth grinding and brushing the teeth too hard.'
Put simply, according to Dr Vanessa and Lisa there's two ways your teeth can darken in colour.
1. Loss of enamel
This exposes the darker dentine layer through acidic erosion, over brushing, or brushing with abrasive toothpastes.
2. Pigmented food in your diet
1. Change Up Your Diet
'Try to eat whiter foods, such as chicken, rice and fish, and also drink clear or white fluids such as water and milk,' says Dr Richard.
2. Drink Through A Straw
'Drink through a straw to bypass your teeth if you are drinking something like a berry smoothie.'
3. Use A Whitening Toothpaste And Electric Toothbrush
'A good electric toothbrush can be great to maintain or enhance the whitening process.'
4. Attend A Hygienist Regularly
According to Dr Lisa and Vanessa, 'Attend your hygienist regularly to remove plaque and calculus, this will keep your teeth and gums healthy.'
ELLE Lab: 13 At-Home Teeth Whitening Kits That Actually Work
Our winning kit can be powered by your laptop, or even your phone, so you can whiten your teeth any time or place – just be prepared for the looks.
Simple to get to grips with, our testers were pleased to see results after just four days. The handy LED light turns itself off after the 16-minute treatment time is up too, so you don’t accidentally overdo it and end up looking like Ross from Friends. Could whitening your teeth be any easier?
Spotlight Oral Care Teeth Whitening System
Designed by the pros, this kit claims to tackle the reddest of wine stains. Its hero ingredient is hydrogen peroxide, the OG for penetrating the top layer of your enamel.
Did it work? Testers were pleased to report it did, with the average person seeing a difference in their smile in just eight days. It didn’t spark any painful sensitivity and was commended for how mess-free it was to use compared to other kits.
If you want a smile that looks as expensive as Kendall Jenner’s, this will give you whiter teeth in a matter of clicks – literally. The brush applicator is a handbag must-have for brightening your pearly whites, while the vegan vanilla-mint flavour made the whole process more enjoyable.
Some found the 30-second wait time a bit too long to keep your mouth open for, but half saw more dazzling teeth by the end of the trial.
A perfect travel companion, this kit individually wraps each set of strips, so you can save on mess while you’re out and about.
The peroxide-free formula didn’t cause sensitivity for the majority. Half noticed a visibly whiter smile too, with one raving about how 'comfortable, quick and easy to use' this portable kit was.
This kit comes with the bold claim of leaving your teeth 10 shades whiter in just one week, so safe to say, we were intrigued. The majority of our testers found it helped eradicate stubborn stains, leaving most with a brighter, red carpet-worthy smile.
However, our panel found it a bit fiddly to use, and said it could have done with clearer instructions. But it didn’t cause any sensitivity, with one tester impressed with how comfortable the mouth tray was to wear.
ELLE Editors' Picks
Not found your favourite yet? Take a look at the kits the ELLE editors recommend...
Smile Time Teeth Whitening Pen - £18.99
Smile Time's portable teeth whitening pen is the answer to our coffee, wine and tea-stained teeth woes. No longer will you be caught red (wine) handed when someone whips out the camera mid-Pinot Noir, simply brush this gel formula on before any photo ops and wave goodbye to unwanted stains cropping up in your tagged photos.
Colgate Max White Ultimate Whitening Toothpaste - £11.99
Like the idea of getting whiter teeth but can't be bothered with the faff? Adding no extra time to your morning and night-time routines, this whitening toothpaste contains hydrogen peroxide (the ingredient used by dentists when whitening teeth) to gradually lift stains from your gnashers.
L.A. Pacific 4-in-1 Enzyme Whitening Toothpaste - £4.46
If anyone knows how to do a dazzling white smile, it's those LA folk. This formula is a world first thanks to its inclusion of a whitening enzyme which turns the sugars in your mouth into natural hydrogen peroxide. Clever.
Snow Teeth Whitening Kit All-In-One - £147
For those that want to experience the closest thing to dentist-level results at home, this comprehensive whitening kit does the trick. Simply apply the serum to your teeth with the brush, pop in the LED mouth guard and chill for 9 minutes while it works its whitening magic. No scary dentist chair required.
Pro Teeth Whitening Co. Activated Charcoal Teeth Whitening Powder - £9.45
Brushing your teeth with powder takes a bit of getting used to. But do persevere, as the results can be brilliant. Harnessing the natural whitening ingredient of charcoal, this gently removes stains over time. A great option for those with sensitive teeth or gums.
Wisdom Intense White Charcoal Whitening Strips - £17.99
In a hurry to get those gnashers pearly white? These strips claim to whiten in just a few days, with the charcoal helping to speed the process. They're quite strong, so not recommended for continuous use, but are fab for whitening your smile before a big event.
Curaprox Black Is White Charcoal Whitening Toothpaste - £19.84
Not only for detox face masks, Curaprox's whitening toothpaste also harnesses the purifying properties of charcoal to keep stains from settling. Even though the texture is slightly gritty, it's definitely not gag-worthy like some charcoal-infused products. Brush for two minutes, rinse your mouth out thoroughly, et voila.
BlanX White Shock Treatment + LED Bite - £10.67
A pea-sized amount of the BlanX treatment in place of your regular toothpaste is capable of blurring yellow stains into oblivion, all without subjecting your teeth to any abrasive ingredients which so often sensitise – ouch. Using the LED might seem like a bit of a faff when all you want to do is fall into bed at the end of the day, but you only need a minute each time; the key is consistency.
Dr Richard's advice? 'Consult a professional dentist before getting this procedure done.'
Sounds obvious but it's kind of key. 'Teeth whitening is a complicated process that can damage teeth enamel permanently if not carried out properly using high-quality materials,' continues Dr Richard.
Pro Teeth Whitening Options
Dr Richard is all about Zoom Teeth Whitening by Philips, 'It really works for getting your smile looking in tip top condition. Enlighten is another great teeth whitening treatment that was developed by dentists, and uses home whitening gels with highly-customised trays and is really effective for whitening teeth.'
Dr Lisa and Vanessa say it's all about the hydrogen peroxide: 'You can have professional whitening provided at your dentist but this is not designed to be used too frequently. There are adjunctive treatments such as lasers and lights which enhance the process but it is the active ingredient hydrogen peroxide which achieves the best result.'
Hydro who?
'Hygdrogen peroxide breaks down surfaces stains and penetrates the very outer layer of enamel to lighten to overall shade of the tooth. It comes in gel or strip form like our Spotlight Whitening kit you can do at home.'
Yes, and no. Well more no...
'Teeth whitening is never 100% permanent, however when done properly, it can last 2-4 years,' says Dr Richard. 'You will generally have top-up trays even if you do laser teeth whitening so you can always do a bit of extra whitening when you need in order to maintain the teeth.'
As mother always said, everything in moderation.
'Using high concentration treatments too frequently can absolutely damage your teeth. We do not recommend this as dentists,' explains Dr Vanessa and Lisa.
The bad news?
'Using high concentration gels or strips without proper protection can indeed cause significant sensitivity and irritation to the gums which can put a lot of people off whitening their teeth', says Dr Lisa and Vanessa.
The good news?
Dr Richard is a little more positive: 'There can be very slight sensitivity from teeth whitening but this will always fade after the treatment.' Huzzah!
