Gretchen Zachel

Your smile is an essential aspect of your bridal look on your wedding. Having a perfect smile and flashing those pearly whites makes for great wedding photos. Teeth whitening is an excellent option to brighten your teeth.

Tips to Whiten Your Teeth

There are two ways to whiten your teeth. You can opt for professional teeth bleaching or use DIY and home whitening techniques.

1. Professional Teeth Whitening

Professional whitening can effectively remove stains and lighten teeth. During the procedure, the dentist applies a whitening gel (hydrogen peroxide) to your teeth. A high-intensity light is then used to accelerate the whitening process.

While the months leading to your big day may be jam-packed with various activities, scheduling an appointment with your dentist can help you have the perfect smile. One of the biggest mistakes brides make is going for a whitening treatment the day or night before their wedding. Be sure to visit a dentist at least one to two weeks before the big day in case you experience any sensitivity.

2. At-Home Bleaching Techniques

• Bleaching strips

Whitening strips are a great option for bleaching on a budget. The strips are made of a flexible material coated with a thin layer of bleaching solution such as carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. When you place the strips on your teeth, the gel is pressed against the surface of the teeth allowing it to penetrate the teeth.

The treatment takes up to two weeks. However, you can expect to see results in about one week depending on the level of teeth discolouration.

• Whitening trays

Another home whitening technique you may want to try out is using a bleaching tray. It works by filling a plastic tray with whitening gel and placing it on the teeth. The tray is then left on the teeth for a specified period before it is removed.

Your dentist can also provide custom-made trays that fit your teeth perfectly and have a more effective gel.

• Rinses and toothpaste

If you want a more intensive treatment, you can use whitening toothpaste and rinse as part of your oral regime. Additionally, use mouthwash with a natural formula that is alcohol-free as mouthwashes with alcohol dry out dental work. While it may take up to four weeks to see an improvement, you can start this routine a few months before your wedding day.

Whitening pastes have mild abrasives to polish teeth and lighten old stains. Mouthwashes, on the other hand, have hydrogen peroxide – a bleaching agent used to whiten teeth.

Regardless of the whitening method you use, you need to maintain your pearly whites. Here are some maintenance tips to consider:

• Keep up your oral regimen

It is very important to keep up good oral hygiene to maintain white teeth. Be sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss daily and avoid smoking and chewing tobacco

• Steer clear of teeth-staining foods

Avoid certain foods and beverages that can cause teeth stains a few weeks leading up to your wedding. These include coffee, tea, soda, soy sauce, and deep coloured fruits and berries. If you can’t abstain from these foods completely, sip beverages through a straw and drink water alongside these foods to reduce the risk of staining.