Get Your Whitest Smile
Because you’ll be the star of hundreds – dare we say, thousands – of photos throughout the big day, you’ll want your smile to be the very best in every single shot. Our tips will get you there!
1. Get to the dentist office!
First and foremost, arrange to have a check-up and to have your teeth thoroughly cleaned. This, in combination with regular flossing and brushing at home, will drastically improve the color and overall health of your teeth and gums.
2. Find ways to whiten
The quickest, most dramatic way to whiten your teeth is through an in-office bleaching with your dentist. He/she will use professional-strength hydrogen peroxide and special lights or lasers to remove deep stains. The best part? You can be in and out of the office in an hour!
A range of cost-effective teeth whitening kits are available at pharmacies, but dentist-supervised whitening is definitely considered safer and more effective than over-the-counter products. OTC whiteners (and even some whitening toothpastes!) will often over-expose mouth tissues to the active whitening agent. And if you aren’t careful, over-the-counter products could create an uneven whitening of teeth due to ill-fitted mouth guards or trays. Your dentist will design a treatment program that is tailored to your specific needs.
You’ll want to book a whitening appointment well in advance of your wedding – we recommend at least a month before – so you’re not dealing with sensitive teeth on the big day.
3. Remove potential stains before they set in
You might be familiar with the touch-up whitening pens, dissolving strips and/or rinses that line your grocer’s dental aisle. While these products won’t have much of an effect on their own (saliva tends to wash them away quickly), they are great resources after you’ve consumed dark-colored foods or drinks. They’ll keep pigments from resting on the surface of your teeth – ultimately making them definite go-to products for your purse.
4. Drink from a straw for a while
Yes, we’re serious! It sounds silly, but drinking highly pigmented beverages (think coffee, tea and red wine) through a straw in the weeks leading up to your wedding day. This will keep these dark hues from messing up all the hard work (and money!) you’ve put into your teeth-whitening endeavor. And hey, it’s better than the alternative. (Like we could ever give up coffee!)
5. Opt for a blue-based lipstick
While red is the lipstick color of choice for many brides (and we can’t deny their ability to make teeth look white and dazzling), there are certainly options for brides who are looking for a more subtle look. Pinks and corals with a blue base will also contrast off-white teeth, creating the radiant smile from your dreams.
6. Erase the evidence
Now that you’ve put all that time and effort into your teeth, it would be a shame to ruin them on your actual wedding day! Chances are, you’ll want to stop on something festive to celebrate; if red wine is your drink of choice, you can wipe away the evidence from your teeth with towelettes.
