"Look at any photo from the last ten years… my daughter's graduation, family holidays — it looks like I'm politely observing rather than actually having fun. I’d tried all the whitening toothpastes and messy charcoal powders, but nothing worked. I just figured my teeth were a lost cause."

"I was sceptical, but I was also fed up."

So, what was his secret? Not a thousand-pound dental treatment, but an online find he initially dismissed as another "gimmick": MySweetSmile PAP Teeth Whitening Strips.

"I was sceptical, but I was also fed up," Damian said. "So I gave them one last go, and honestly, it was ridiculously easy."

He found that these weren't like other strips he'd tried. Here’s the quick rundown he gave me on why they worked so well:

• They Actually Stay Put: Thanks to a non-slip design, you can pop them on and get on with your life, like finishing up your emails without them sliding about.
• Zero Pain Or Sensitivity: The peroxide-free formula means no "ouch!" moments. They gently lift stains without irritating your gums or teeth.
  
  
• Quick & Effortless: Just 30 minutes a day is all it takes to see a real difference. Damian also puts them on whilst watching the evening news.

"After about a week, my wife squinted at me and said, 'Hang on... something's different.'
The deep-set yellowing was fading. After the full course, the difference was night and day," he beamed.

"But the best bit was the value," he added, leaning in. "You get 21 pouches in a box, which gives you a full 3-week course." For the price of a few takeaway coffees, MySweetSmile offered a proper treatment plan. And the brilliant results have stayed put for months now. Damian isn't the only one raving about this discovery. The reviews are full of people who, like him, were tired of hiding their smiles.