teeth whitening at home..........EASY...........

There was applause all-round on the beauty desk when we found out that Oral-B's cult White Whitestrips, £50, arefinally launching in the UK. No more stock-piling from America trips, thanks very much.

But before you make a mad dash to buy some in the bid for whiter teeth, the celebrity dentist Dr Uchenna Okoye (of 10 Years Youngerfame) shares her at-home whitening tips to prep your teeth for any whitening, and how to prolong the effects. Note - put down that coffee...

Start using a whitening toothpaste

As we age, our teeth naturally become more yellow. Plaque adds to the yellow colouring, therefore in order to not look aged we must keep our teeth as white as possible. Start with a whitening toothpaste to keep surface stains at bay. If you smoke, stay away from most smoker's toothpastes as they can be too abrasive - the new Oral-B 3D White Luxe Glamorous Shine Toothpaste, £3.99 is very effective in removing surface stains.

Start using an electric toothbrush 

For visibly whiter teeth, electric toothbrushes really do help. They perfectly complement any whitening toothpastes, and help to combat plaque build-up, prevent the development of tartar, and remove surface stains – leaving behind a beautiful white smile. 

Avoid dark foods 

In order to prevent new stains from appearing, avoid dark foods (anything that would stain a white shirt) and floss after eating to prevent stains. This means avoiding red wine, coffee, cola and curry which stain the teeth, and eating crunchy vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, celery and apples, as these foods actively help to clean and protect your teeth. Strawberries are also renowned for keeping teeth whiter because they contain malic acid, an enzyme that encourages saliva production, so you naturally rinse your mouth as you eat.  Another tip is to drink sodas from straws. Avoid tea, coffee and definitely smoking especially with professional whitening. 

Don't rinse after brushing 

Fluoride is topical and therefore it needs to be topped up frequently. It is best to spit rather than rinse after brushing your teeth so the fluoride stays in your mouth for longer.  This is especially important for the night-time brush so it can coat your teeth whilst you sleep.