I am confident that this will not backfire on me as I have a reasonably pearly set of gnashers these days. This is in spite of my copious hot beverage and red wine consumption – and thanks to a rigorous dental regime. I don’t mean anything fancy at the dentist though, I mean quick and easy things you can do at home so you don’t look like Shane MacGowan. And here’s what I’ve been trying out.

Pearl Drops have been around for ages but have shaken off their slightly dated image with a new range (that interestingly includes a night serum I also fancy trying). I like their Pearl Drops Tea & Coffee (£3.99), which, although sometimes reluctant to leave the tube without enthusiastic squeezing, leaves your teeth sparkling post-Americano.

A bit fancier is Swiss Dent Extreme Whitening Toothpaste (£17), which comes in a reassuringly enormous tube and contains ‘patented nanotechnology’ along with co-enzyme Q10 to revitalise gums.

As with skincare, you get what you pay for, and I love this foamy paste that has me running my tongue over my teeth all day.

If you need to do a kind of tooth bootcamp for a couple of weeks, maybe prior to a big event, Blanx have Extrawhite Intensive Whitening Treatment (£10.49), which you use twice a day for two weeks, and then check your results on a little colour chart – which showed my teeth to be two shades lighter. Impressed.

If you’re wondering what ingredients go into these whitening toothpastes and would rather go for something natural, try Jason PowerSmile Whitening All Natural Toothpaste (4.99). We’re not talking veneer whiteness here (but who wants that anyway?). No, this bad boy uses bamboo powder, calcium carbonate, and silica to whiten and Aloe Vera to soothe gum irritation. Love the fact it’s suitable for kids too.

Finally, one for your handbag: Yotuel Whitening Pen (£12.49), perfect for touching up your teeth when you’ve suddenly found yourself on the other side of a bottle of red somewhere. Which happens to the best of us…