Product watch: Pearly whites

We all want pearly whites. Rachel Marie Walsh reveals how to keep your teeth healthy and clean, and a simple trick to help avoid staining your teeth after drinking wine

Anne Hathaway went to impressive lengths to get that Oscar. According to Les Mis director Tom Hooper, she insisted on hacking her glossy hair off and dropping almost two stone to play Fantine with optimal authenticity. She didn’t go totally “method” with her teeth, though, and who can blame her? Faced with losing any of those pearly whites to stay true to a character who sells teeth to a street dentist, I would have run for the make-up chair too. Here’s how to clean, polish and pout your way closer to a Disney princess smile.

Brush Them The Right Way

Most adults only change their toothbrush once a year, according to the Irish Dental Association, which recommends replacing your brush every three months. Whether you use an electric or manual brush opt for soft-bristled heads, which are kindest to the enamel. Brush for three minutes twice a day using a pea-sized amount of whitening paste, like BlanX Advanced Whitening, €9.36. This comes with a 30-day whitening guarantee and a “BlanXometer” chart that lets you monitor the changing colour of your teeth.

Go Electric

Electric toothbrushes aren’t purse-friendly but, to quote perfect-toothed model Poppy Delevingne, they take you to a whole new level of dental hygiene. They stimulate gums, remove plaque efficiently and have timers to make sure you brush long enough. Philips Sonicare Diamond Clean, €319.99, is the gold-standard. This brush has five settings, including whitening and polishing modes, and a portable charger. It contains 44% more bristles than the average electric kind and is proven to make teeth look whiter after a week’s use. Oral-B Professional Healthy Clean + ProWhite Precision 4000, €106 before shipping at Amazon.com, is a high-quality, more affordable alternative.

Wine, Wait, Water

Sticking to white wine and brushing promptly seem obvious ways to avoid staining but wait! A recent study undertaken at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, confirmed that white wine dissolves a micro-layer of tooth, making them extra-vulnerable to stains. In your teeth’s weakened state, brushing too soon will cause more damage. To counteract the acidity of the wine, wait 20 to 30 minutes and rinse with water before brushing (your saliva will actually re-mineralise the tooth enamel).

Wear Blue-Based Lip Colours

Lavender, bluish red and berry lip colours make teeth appear whiter than warm, earthy shades. Ironically, wine-coloured lipstick also helps. I like Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss in Lilac Rose, €24, and Tom Ford Lip Colour in Cherry Lush, €46. Avoid pearly finishes and anything with beige, orange or brown undertones if you wish to minimise discolouration.