Louise McSharry: Forget Turkey teeth –here’s how to boost your natural smile

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Ladies, gentleman and non-binary friends, the internet has a new fave. Aimee Lou Wood, one of the stars of the new series of The White Lotus, has stolen our hearts. It’s partially her adorable personality and delightful Manchester accent, but a lot of it comes down to her teeth. Yes, Wood is a Hollywood anomaly. She is an actor with normal human teeth.

It’s been a long time since we saw anyone on our screens who hasn’t had extensive dental work. From veneers to composite bonding, cosmetic dentists have made a fortune via delivering perfect Hollywood smiles. Now, though, Wood has arrived and reminded us just how charming a natural, gap-toothed smile can be.

This may not seem like a big deal, but I actually think this could be a turning point. For years, a perfect smile was out of reach for most people, and could only be achieved by the wealthy. In a world of Turkey teeth, however, dental perfection is relatively easy to access, even if you have to get a credit union loan.



We’ve already seen the very wealthy turn away from designer logos in favour of quiet luxury as a result of their ubiquity, so could we see the same happen with teeth? Could the beauty ideal move away from Hollywood perfection to a smile with character? I think so. There is no doubt, though, that when it comes to a smile, white, beautifully cared-for teeth will always be in. With that in mind, here are some of my favourite products for keeping your natural, human teeth in the best possible shape.

(£120) — It’s probably not normal to love a toothbrush the way I love this toothbrush, but when have I ever been normal? Aside from the fact that it’s Irish, I love the Sonic Pro’s sleek style, long battery life, whitening setting and the fact that it makes brushing my teeth into a bit of a game. With timers for each quadrant of your mouth, and a red light that goes on if you’re brushing too hard (apparently loads of us do), there’s no avoiding a thorough and healthy brush with this. (£120) — I’m not going to lie, I could never get on board with the faff of flossing.

Plus, the idea of pulling string between my teeth is a sensory nightmare. Blasting a jet stream of water at them? That I can get on board with. This guy can be used wet, so I keep it in the shower and use it every time I’m in there.

(£29) — EU regulations means teeth whitening strips here aren’t as strong as those in the US, but these guys do have a relatively quick impact without creating sensitivity. They also taste better than any other strips I’ve tried. (£17.

99) — This is effective at reducing the appearance of stains, easy to use and super handy for when you’re on the road. I also find the feel of it on your teeth significantly better than some products, which feel very unpleasant. I’ve been a fan of ’s hair masks for some time now, and was delighted to learn that the brand was launching a new shampoo and conditioner.

The brand was born out of founder Sinead Asple’s need for products that worked well for her wavy hair, and the new launches are unsurprisingly ideal for that hair type. (£21 each) are sulfate-free products, which were formulated to moisturise the hair and protect it from dryness and breakage. As with all Sea+Solu products, you can increase their impact via boosters, which offer added volumising, moisturising, strengthening or anti-frizz elements.

While the world of beauty may be moving into a phase of lip stains, I don’t think glossy lip balms are going to disappear any time soon. Comfortable and pretty, there are lots on the market these days, but (£27) is a personal favourite. As the name suggests, these balms are infused with hyaluronic acid, which means you’ll never have to worry about dryness when they’re around.

They also deliver a glossy finish and beautiful pigment. Available in eight shades, from pinks to peaches and berries, these lip products offer the perfect finishing touch for the kind of glossy, pretty make-up look Charlotte Tilbury is synonymous with. While I really love these as a product, I don’t love the packaging.

Happikiss’ white plastic tube gets dirty easily and doesn’t appropriately reflect the high-end price point. is an Irish brand best known for its tanning products, but it has been steadily moving into the make-up space over the last couple of years. I’ve been particularly impressed by its latest launch, a collection of lip balms (£9.

99). These highly glossy products are richly hydrating but also pack a punch when it comes to pigment. The collection is small, with only four shades available, but I have had them all on rotation since they landed on my desk.

Pink Cotton, Carmel Drizzle, Wicked Cherry and Mocha Twist cover all the bases as far as I’m concerned, and easily complete a make-up look with a glossy finish. What I love about this category of product is that it’s low maintenance — you can wear them to a lunch or dinner without worrying about checking and topping up your product every five minutes. They’ll wear evenly, and can be topped up with minimal effort.

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