Why we’re all talking about ‘Turkey teeth’ and how to get a whiter smile more naturally

Many of us will probably have considered different ways of getting a whiter, healthier smile – but would you resort to “Turkey teeth”?

The craze sees a large number of Brits travel out to countries like Turkey every year to have crowns or veneers fitted in a bid to get a billion dollar smile. However, for this to happen, their natural teeth are irreversibly shaved down. Dr Sahil Patel from Marylebone Smile Clinic also points out that not many dentists in Turkey inform the patient of the difference of having crowns – caps placed on top of damaged teeth – and veneers – a layer of porcelain material placed over teeth – fitted.

“You would need to reduce the size of your natural teeth by 5-15% for veneers, and by 50-70% for crowns,” he explains. “This is where the ‘peg teeth’ look comes in, when the dentist is preparing your natural teeth for crowns.”

So if you want a brilliant smile without shaving down your teeth, what can you do instead? Plenty of things, according to Dr Patel. And the best news? Rather than splashing out upwards of £3,000 to have the “Turkey” treatment, these whitening and brightening tricks and treatments cost considerably less.

How to get whiter and brighter teeth more naturally

Make better drink choices

If you’re looking to make your teeth whiter and healthier-looking without splashing any cash, there are some simple swaps that can help you achieve this, including watching what you drink.

“In the short term, red wine can cause teeth to look darker, but white wine can discolour teeth more than red wine over time, due to its high acidity. It’s the same with Prosecco – we call it ‘Prosecco teeth’,” says Dr Patel. “The acidity of the drink eats away at enamel – the tooth's protective surface – which will cause tooth discolouration.”

So what alcoholic drink is the best choice ? Something low in sugar and in acidity, like gin and tonic.

This might also sound obvious, but if you’re a black coffee or tea drinker, this can cause more noticeable staining than if you were to drink the liquid diluted with milk.