If you fancy a Hollywood smile then you have lots of choice these days, in the past white teeth only belonged on the rich and famous, pop stars, footballers and actors. The choice of methods is quite unique as well, from light intensity, veneers and bleaching agents it is hard to choose. The cost is also prohibitive in some cases, but a home DIY kit is now available in most chemists’ shops, and applied by the client. The jury is still out on the results, as they vary from person to person and also how well you stick to the restrictions that apply. The kits are quite simple in that they have a gum-shield and a mixture that makes the teeth whiter, bleach in fact. The shield is soaked in hot water to make it soft then you simply bite on the bottom and top to make an impression of your teeth. This makes a mould that allows the agent to soak your teeth and make them whiter. The time periods vary from mix to mix, but they all have restrictions afterwards on you avoiding food and drink that will discolour your teeth again. The application is renewable at set times. Another method also involves a gel that reacts with the enamel on the teeth to re-colour the teeth back to a whiter shade. This is done at salons and at home, by a trained technician and a machine that produces an intense light source. The gel is applied to all the teeth and a rubber shield protects the gums and lips. The light source is shone on the gel to make it react with the enamel and whiten any discolouration. Two to three fifteen minute sessions are usual in this procedure, and the teeth can be sensitive for a few days, but the results are instant. Again you have to avoid anything that can re-dye the whiteness, but it is a recommended method. Veneers come next in teeth whitening; they are just slivers of a material that are in the same vein as an expensive false nail. They are cemented on and sealed all round to avoid any infections, they are specially made from digital photos. There are thin ones that last from 3-5 years and thicker ones that last from 10-15 years, both are individual and replaceable. The main difference is that the thicker ones need to have more enamel shaved off the original tooth to cement them on.