Cat Deeley Turns Fifty Today | The 'Religious' Teeth-Whitening Habit Hollywood Gave Her

NewBeauty's piece on Cat's Hollywood transformation, first published in 2013, quoted her saying: "Yellow teeth are the last thing I want!" She added that "having a white smile gives me the confidence to be in the spotlight and smile through anything".

The magazine described whitening as her "first and foremost beauty duty" after the move to Hollywood, and called it "religious teeth whitening". That phrase is NewBeauty's, not hers, but it's a fair summary of the attitude.

This isn't a new revelation, and it doesn't tell us exactly what she uses, how often, or who does it. I'm not going to guess. What it tells us is that for someone who spends her working life with cameras pointed at her face, a white smile felt like part of the job.

And that's relatable. It's one of the most common cosmetic wishes there is.

This is the bit I most want people to know before they start.

Whitening products usually use hydrogen peroxide, or something that releases it. The peroxide gets into the natural tooth and breaks down the stains inside, which is why the tooth looks lighter. It works on enamel and dentine, the stuff real teeth are made of.

But fillings, crowns and veneers aren't made of tooth. They're made of composite resin, porcelain or other materials, and whitening gel doesn't change their colour. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust's patient information makes the same point.

So if you've got:

• tooth-coloured fillings on your front teeth
• crowns
• veneers
• composite bonding

those will stay the same shade while your natural teeth get lighter around them. The result can be patchy, with older work suddenly looking darker than the teeth next to it.

That doesn't mean you can't whiten. It just means you need a plan. If you're thinking about whitening and new crowns, veneers or bonding, whiten first, let the shade settle, and then match the new work to your new colour. Do it the other way round and you'll be chasing a shade you can never catch. It's the same order I recommended in Maura Higgins' smile makeover.

(Not sure which is which in your mouth? I've explained the difference in veneers vs crowns.)

Here's my slightly controversial opinion: there's no such shade as "Hollywood white", and chasing it is how people end up with teeth that look like a fridge door.

Natural teeth aren't one flat colour. They're slightly lighter at the edges, slightly warmer near the gum, and every tooth is a tiny bit different. That's what makes them look real. A smile that's too white and too uniform can look less natural, not more.

The right shade depends on things like:

• your skin tone, because very white teeth can look starker against some complexions
• the whites of your eyes, which is a good sanity check for how bright is too bright
• your age, because teeth naturally get a little darker over the years, and that's normal
• any existing fillings, crowns or veneers, which won't change colour

So when someone asks me for "as white as possible", my first question is always: what do you want it to look like when you're sat across a table from someone, not just in a selfie?

Done properly, whitening is one of the gentler cosmetic treatments. It doesn't involve drilling or removing any tooth.

The most common side effect is sensitivity. You might feel sharp twinges with cold drinks or cold air for a while. For most people, it's temporary and settles when treatment stops or between sessions. If you already have sensitive teeth, mention it before you start, and if a twinge catches you out, here's how to calm sensitive teeth quickly.

The bigger risks come from shortcuts. Northern Ireland's official advice on tooth whitening warns that products from non-dentists can cause burned gums and blistered lips, that some home kits can harm enamel, and that products sold online often don't say what's in them.

In the UK, tooth whitening is dentistry. According to the General Dental Council, only registered dental professionals can offer or provide whitening treatment. The maximum strength of hydrogen peroxide a dentist can use for cosmetic whitening is 6%. Products sold over the counter can only contain or release up to 0.1%.

So beauty salons, pop-up kiosks and someone on Instagram with a blue light and a ring light? Not legal for whitening, and not worth the risk to your teeth.

Here's where I'll gently disagree with the Hollywood approach. Whitening isn't something that needs doing constantly.

Once your teeth are the shade you want, the aim is to keep them there, not to keep going lighter and lighter. Top-ups now and again, guided by your dentist, are usually enough. Constant whitening can mean more sensitivity for very little extra gain.

And a lot of keeping teeth white has nothing to do with gel at all:

• Cut down on the stainers. Tea, coffee, red wine and smoking are the big ones. Dark fizzy drinks too, which I covered in is Diet Coke bad for your teeth?.
• Drink water after stainy drinks. A quick swig helps rinse them off.
• See the hygienist. A proper clean can remove surface stains and tartar that make teeth look duller than they are. If you're not sure how often to go, I've covered how often you should see a dentist.
• Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, especially last thing at night.

Does Cat Deeley whiten her teeth? She's said in an older interview that she doesn't want yellow teeth and that a white smile gives her confidence in the spotlight. NewBeauty described her approach as "religious teeth whitening".

Does whitening work on crowns and veneers? No. Whitening only works on natural teeth. Fillings, crowns, veneers and bonding stay the same colour.

How white should my teeth be? There's no single right shade. The best result looks natural with your skin tone, your eyes and the rest of your smile.

Is teeth whitening safe? When it's done by a registered dental professional using legal products, it's generally safe. The most common side effect is temporary sensitivity.

Cat Deeley has spent nearly thirty years smiling for a living, and she's not shy about wanting her teeth to look good on camera. Fair enough.

But if you're inspired to brighten your own smile, remember the rules: whitening only works on natural teeth, existing dental work won't change colour, and the best white is the one that suits your face. Start with a check-up, make a plan, and skip the quest for "Hollywood white". Happy birthday, Cat.

This article is general information based on public reporting. It is not personal dental advice. Cat Deeley has no connection with this article.