A TRIP to the dentist might sound more like a punishment than a present but research shows it could be this year's top Christmas gift, Worcestershire residents are being told.

The British Dental Health Foundation says magazines carrying the perfect smiles of celebrities like Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts are inspiring people to improve their own teeth.

Worcestershire spokesman for the charity Nigel Carter said people judged others on the standard of their smile.

"Our own research has found the majority of people put a nice smile at the top of their wish list when going on a date," he said.

"Other studies have found people actually make judgements on a person's intellect based on their teeth.

"For those searching for that special Christmas gift, cosmetic dentistry offers an exciting alternative as the benefits can be enjoyed for a lifetime.

"However people should be careful not to have unrealistic expectations as not everyone will get the perfect smile they are hoping for."