Your ultimate smile guide

Each week our experts Dr AAMER KHAN and LESLEY REYNOLDS bring you the latest beauty news and anti-ageing advice

Oral care is booming. Indeed research shows that, thanks to seeing ourselves up close on screens during the pandemic, we’re putting our money quite literally where our mouth is – and currently spending more on our smiles than ever.

Looking after teeth and gums is crucial to staying healthy and keeping the immune system robust. Not to mention a gleaming smile brightens the whole face. And there has never been more choice when it comes to oral care.

From the latest tweakments at the clinic, to exfoliating toothpastes and microbiome boosting supplements, it has never been easier to give your mouth a total makeover.

Here we share how it’s done.

AT THE CLINIC

Whether you want fuller lips, to reduce a gummy smile, or improve the look of your teeth, there may well be a smile-boosting tweakment for you.

The lip flip As we age, the upper lip naturally thins and turns inwards as we smile.

The lip flip uses Botox to lift and boost the lips, injecting tiny amounts at the corners of the cupid’s bow and nearby. It relaxes the muscles and instantly improves the shape, giving the illusion of a fuller pout. Costs from £200, available from most clinics. Gum-tox A gummy smile, which can occur naturally or be a result of ageing, is when more of your gum shows than teeth. Injecting Botox into the upper lip helps weaken the retractor muscles, which ensures the lip won’t rise as high. Costs from £200, and results last from three to six months.

Jaw-tox It’s a hard habit to break, but constantly clenching and grinding your teeth takes its toll on your smile.

When your jaw muscles are overworked, they can become bulky, giving your lower face a wider, square appearance.

Grinding can also cause your teeth to look worn down with chipped edges and a loss of enamel.

Botox injections into the jaw muscles can stop grinding and reduce the square look of the jaw. Treatment takes five minutes and results last up to six months.

Costs from £200.

Cosmetic bonding

Rather than expensive veneers, which require the natural tooth to be filed down into a point, the less destructive and more natural process of composite bonding is now in demand. It can solve many aesthetic issues, such as closing gaps, repairing chips, masking discolouration or restoring worn teeth. A tooth-coloured material is used to change shape and colour

without causing permanent damage to the natural teeth.

Pain-free, just one treatment is often required. Expect to pay from £500 per tooth.

HIGH STREET HELPERS

From tooth exfoliators to gum serums, and everything in between, oral care is booming on the high street and online.

Mouth makeover

Spotlight Oral Care Smile Rejuvenation System, £150 (uk.spotlightoralcare.com), is a three-step at-home microneedling kit to knock years off your smile.

Using a roller, a serum with actives and a lip-plumping sheet mask, it helps minimise fine lines around the mouth, cheeks and chin and tightens the jawline.

Microbiome magic

We know how important our gut microbiome is, but did you know we should be looking after our mouth microbiome too? While traditional toothpastes blast all bacteria – 99 per cent of which are beneficial – Gallinee Toothpaste, £12 (gallinee.com), supports the mouth microbiome with prebiotics. You could also try Gallinee Mouth and Microbiome Suckable Supplements, £17, for a prebiotic boost during the day.

Enamel care By the time we reach our 40s, our teeth may suffer from enamel erosion from consuming acidic food and drink.

This results in yellowing of the tooth as erosion exposes the layer of dentin underneath, which is yellow in colour.

And as enamel protects the nerves and prevents them being exposed, it can also lead to hypersensitivity. Regenerate has launched a new product to tackle both issues. Hypersensitivity Toothpaste, £13.50 ( feelunique.com), helps to restore enamel with a formula that shields exposed nerves, treats hypersensitivity and restores natural whiteness.

Teeth conditioners The latest research shows we should condition our teeth like we condition our hair.

Swiss Smile Pearl Shine Dental Conditioner, £80 (harrods.com), should be used as a second step after brushing and adds a protective layer to the teeth for 16 hours. With hydroxyapatite for strengthening and glycerin to moisturise, plus xylitol to combat tooth decay, apply the airy foam with a toothbrush or pump straight into your mouth, swill around, then spit out.

Gum serum Skincare

– but for your gums. Colgate’s skin-loving, serum-like Elixir Gum Booster Toothpaste, £12 (Boots), contains skin-plumping hyaluronic acid and fluoride technology to keep gums healthy and hydrated, and ward off harmful plaque.

Brighter smile Research has shown that discoloured teeth can age us by 13 years.

Exfoliation can help reveal a whiter smile, using ingredients like silica to gently polish the enamel and remove stains.

Try London Smiling MySmile Toothpaste, £17.99 (londonsmiling. com), which was created by dentist Dr Uchenna Okoye and contains enamel-rebuilding ingredients hydroxyapatite and fluoride, essential for preventing cavities.

For more of Lesley’s tips, visit lesleyreynolds.com