Whiter
Teeth for Your Wedding on Any Budget
Color is one of the biggest elements
of your wedding day. What color bridesmaid’s dresses to choose?
What color tablecloths? What color flowers? What color lipstick?
etc. One element you can’t forget, though, is “What
color teeth?!”
For many brides, having the whitest
teeth possible is crucial on the day when they will most likely
have the most eyes and camera lenses focused on them. As the wife
of a dentist and guinea pig to many types of teeth whitening, I
have compiled some of the options available to you and how they
worked for my husband and I.
1. Laser
whitening
The quickest way to whiten your
teeth is through a one-hour laser whitening technique like BriteSmile.
Many cosmetic dentists offer this treatment, which only takes one
hour and can last two years. The dentist will use a gas plasma light
and low-peroxide gel to lighten your teeth. You will wear eyeshades
to protect your eyes from the strong light which is focused directly
on your teeth. You will look funny as the procedure is being done,
but the results are astonishing. When my husband had it done by
a colleague it lightened his coffee and cigarette stained teeth
so much that they were off the chart (meaning they were so white
there was no color to compare it to). The downfalls of laser whitening,
though, are that it is very costly and is not covered by insurance.
The one hour session typically costs $600 - $1,000 plus. Also, if
you have sensitive teeth the procedure can be very painful. My husband
does not have sensitive teeth but still had to take a pain killer
following the treatment because his teeth hurt so bad. Because I
have such sensitive teeth, he would not allow me to have laser whitening
done—even though it would have been for free.
2.
Dual whitening and trays
Cheaper and safer for sensitive
teeth then laser whitening, is an in-office process where whitener
is applied to the teeth and exposed to light. The whitener is then
washed off and reapplied numerous times. Your dentist will also
make you a tray (like a mouth guard) to wear in your mouth for about
an hour a day with whitening gel inside. Or, you can just have the
dentist make you a tray, without using the light, and wear it more
often (about 3-4 hours a day). This approach is cheaper then dual
whitening (about $300) My sister went with the tray only approach
and while she had to wear it often, it did whiten her teeth (which
had been stained from braces) considerably. I tried dual whitening,
but it still proved to be too painful for my very sensitive teeth
(my teeth are extremely sensitive due to damage caused by an eating
disorder)
3. Over
the counter products
If hundreds of dollars for whitening
is not in your budget, there are many ways to make your teeth whiter
for less. While these products won’t last years (like lasers
or dual whitening) they can help get your teeth really white for
your wedding day. There are numerous whitening toothpastes you can
buy and, the newest product on the market is Crest Whitestrips.
The Crest strips are clear, invisible, strips that stick to your
teeth and invisibly lift off stains. They stay on the teeth for
½ hour twice a day and cost about $30 a box. The way I achieved
teeth that were white enough for my husband’s approval on
my wedding day was by using Crest Whitestrips for a month and Rembrandt
Whitening Toothpaste every other day for a month. I also used the
toothpaste right before photographs began on my wedding day. For
me, this whitening technique produced excellent results with no
pain! (It should be noted that my teeth were pretty white to begin
with, though, as I don’t smoke or drink caffeine)
So, there you have it. I have
outlined the main ways to get your teeth as white as your dress
on your wedding day (that is assuming you are wearing a white dress).
For more information on any of these techniques please consult with
your dentist—he or she can help you decide what approach is
right for your teeth and budget. I am not advocating any particular
product or procedure – as everyone’s teeth are different
and need different care. This information is just to get you started
on your journey towards whiter teeth. Happy wedding and whitening!
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