There's a time in everyone's life when they just have to face up to the cold hard facts: dental appointments are a necessary evil.

There's also the time when you realise that even regular dental appointments won't give you that brilliant Hollywood smile. If you really want gleaming white teeth that people can see check their reflection in when sat opposite you on the tube, then you have to go one further than your simple 'regular checkup'.

This is how I discovered Smilepod and when I learnt that cosmetic teeth whitening is in fact more a lot more pleasant than the average trip to the dentist.

Smilepod is a brand new walk in hygienist conveniently located in Covent Garden on Rose Street (off Long Acre). Seconds away from the shops and the central piazza, meaning that the 40 minute procedures can be worked into your day like a coffee break (although they'll be less of that after whitening!)

On my visit I opted for the High Gloss Diamond Polish, which at £85 is a lot cheaper than other cosmetic whitening options but still enough for me to want to see significant results. It's one of the most popular treatments at the clinic and uses a high power air polishing jet with a diamond polishing paste to restore natural gleam and whiteness to creamy stained teeth.

The results were fantastic and the treatment was surprisingly a breeze. The time seemed to fly by and although my teeth were a little sensitive at times, compared to the infra red whitening options it was a much more comfortable experience.

Plus afterwards I could pop straight across the road to HnM. Perfect.

Smilepod

23 Rose Street (off Long Acre)

London

WC2E 9EA

0207 836 6866