London: he number of people having their teeth whitened has increased since the smoking ban came into force.

The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD) said there had been a “marked increase” in demand for whitening treatments since the UK ban was introduced on July 1.

BACD board members reported the rise, with some practices seeing the number of people opting for treatments shoot up 40%.

On average, respondents noted an increase of 12%. Teeth whitening is the most popular cosmetic dentistry treatment, followed by white fillings, veneers, crowns and bridges.

Christopher Orr, a dentist and BACD president, said: “It appears people are smoking less now due to the ban, so it is not a surprise that many would like an improved smile to go with their better health.

“Once they reduce or even stop their consumption of cigarettes altogether, people notice the visible damage done to their teeth and for the first time feel confident enough to do something about it.

“Patients also realise that the cost savings of quitting smoking mean they can treat themselves to a cosmetic procedure, which even offers an anti-ageing effect.”

A previous BACD survey found that four out of five people were unhappy with their smiles and up to a fifth concealed their teeth in photos.