Teeth Whitening For Wedding Day

You have dialed in your makeup look, scheduled facials and waxes, possible botox treatments, and have all your hair appointment scheduled. But there is a part of your wedding look that you can often overlook—your smile. Since you will be smiling from ear to ear on your big day, now is the ideal time to prepare and make sure you will be flashing only the brightest of smiles.

A beautiful, bright white smile can give a person an increase in self-confidence when meeting with other people. Teeth whitening is the most desired cosmetic dentistry procedure before significant life events such as weddings, job interviews, graduations, and reunions.

Do You Need To Whiten Teeth in a Hurry?

Teeth whitening comes in many forms and does not always have to be expensive to achieve optimal results. There are many different ways to get whiter teeth. These options range from low-cost, over-the-counter treatment options to high-end whitening services offered by your dentist.

Typically the in-office teeth whitening procedures will deliver the best results in the least amount of time. For example, in-office teeth whitening can cost between $650-750. It will deliver significant color change in an hour while drug store products cost around $20 to $100 but take weeks to produce the results. However, these results will not typically equal office teeth whitening results.

Maintain Good Dental Habits

For the maximum results with any teeth whitening, you need to maintain some good dental habits. This maintenance should begin with going to your dentist for regular examinations and teeth cleanings. 

Practicing good oral hygiene by brushing, flossing is important to maintain your potential whiter smile. Consuming food and drinks such as coffee and tea are likely to stain your teeth and affect the teeth whitening outcome. Therefore you need to figure out how to reduce their intake or avoid them altogether. It is also important to refrain from habits such as smoking when you begin teeth whitening.

Teeth Whitening Wedding Day

As mentioned previously, there are numerous teeth whitening treatment options you can consider before your big event. It is important to plan to give yourself adequate time to complete the teeth whitening and achieve the desired cosmetic results.

It would help if you understood how long it would take for the treatment’s effects to wear off, so your smile is not treated prematurely, and the effects subside before your big event. This is typically not a factor as teeth whitening typically lasts six months or more before a touch-up may be needed.

How Do Teeth Whiteners Work?

While there are numerous teeth whitening treatment products on the market, most work the same way. Generally, the whitening agent in teeth whitener gel are peroxides (hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide). The concentration of the whitening ingredient and the amount of time of teeth exposure will influence the degree of whitening—and the likelihood of tooth sensitivity.

When the hydrogen peroxide oxygen molecules come into contact with surface stains on your teeth, they react by breaking apart the chemical bonds that cause discoloration to your tooth enamel. This chemical reaction removes the stains, leaving you with a pearly white smile.

The Best Time to Get Your Teeth Whitened

You might be considering getting your teeth whitened 7-10 before your wedding to make sure your smile is the whitest it can be. While, for some, this will work fine, your dentist will not recommend you rush treatment.

If you choose professional whitening treatment a day or two before your wedding, sensitive teeth are always possible. 

Most dentists will recommend you complete teeth whitening well in advance of your wedding day.

This is because teeth whitening planning may include a series of treatments to achieve your desired smile. It would be best if you planned to begin treatments at least one month in advance of your big day. 

Before the Wedding: Regular Dental Exam & Teeth Cleaning

Regular professional teeth cleanings will help remove stains and build-up of plaque. Plus, any other dental issues that are present can be diagnosed with a dental examination. When you maintain your smile regularly, the teeth whitening procedure is a lot more effective.

Before The Wedding: Schedule A Dental Consultation

Visit your dentist 4-6 weeks before your wedding. You do not have to wait for your next regular examination. Discuss teeth whitening with your dentist and what you wish to achieve. The cosmetic consultation will help you plan for your next course of action, along with the costs involved.

Teeth whitening treatments are very customizable and each patient will see different results. It depends on the individual’s oral condition. For extremely stained teeth, it can take several sessions and a more comprehensive plan. If you plan to have your teeth whitened, the key is to speak with your dentist about the best plan for your smile.

Before The Wedding Day: Professional Teeth Cleaning

To gain the best teeth whitening results, your dentist should complete a professional cleaning before the whitening treatment. These two procedures combined will yield the best cosmetic results.

Your professional teeth cleaning will remove plaque and tartar that has accumulated. A cleaning will also help remove surface staining before you begin teeth whitening.

Below are the four main teeth whitening options:

Professional Whitening Treatments

In-Office Whitening Treatment in the Dental Office

Optimal Time to Best Results: 1 hour

Professional teeth whitening carries the highest financial cost but delivers the quickest and best results. Most patients prefer it over the other options for those very reasons.

During this procedure, your dentist will use a relatively high concentration of peroxide gel to whiten your teeth. The treatment only takes about an hour at most, with the peroxide gel remaining on your teeth for intervals of 15 – 20 minutes. Your dentist may advise patients with stubborn stains to return for extra whitening sessions or have them continue with home treatment options.

At-Home Whitening Gels

Optimal Time to Best Results: 2-4 weeks

Another common treatment procedure is the use of at-home bleaching gels provided by your dentist. This whitening involves using teeth whitening trays filled with a bleaching gel, and the whitening trays are worn for about 8 hours a day. This method will whiten your teeth in about two weeks. 

Teeth whitening provided by your dentist is customizable and contains a higher concentration of whitening gel than the drug store setups. The higher concentration will produce more effective whitening results. Results typically last 6-12 months before needing a touch-up treatment.

Drug Store Whitening Treatments

At-Home Whitening Strips

Optimal Time to Best Results: 2-6 weeks

Whitening strips are another teeth whitening method and are sold over the counter at reasonably inexpensive prices. They contain low amounts of hydrogen peroxide, and depending on the smile and staining, results can be seen in 2-4 weeks. You can expect teeth to maintain their whitened shade for around 3-6 months.

Brushing using Whitening Toothpaste

Optimal Time to Best Results: 2-3 months

Using whitening toothpaste is by far the cheapest option. However, whitening toothpaste takes a long time for results to start showing (around 4-6 weeks). If your big event is near, this will not be the best option for your smile. Whitening toothpaste is also less effective than whitening strips because they contain lower peroxide concentrations and only come into contact with the teeth for a short period. Results will be minimal for most smiles.

Whitening Mouthwash

Whitening mouthwash may be an excellent addition to your dental hygiene routine, along with pre-wedding teeth whitening treatment. These mouthwashes are ideal for keeping stains at bay between dental cleanings, as they typically cannot deliver dramatic results on their own.

Plan Ahead For Your Wedding Day Smile

It is important to give your smile plenty of time for the whitening treatment to show results. For example, whitening strips can deliver results in 2-4 weeks, but you should not start using them exactly two weeks before your wedding. Give yourself adequate time (a month or two) to tell whether the results are what you are looking for. It is also important to note.

Not all patients are good candidates for teeth whitening. This can include those with tooth decay, gingival tissue recession, or are undergoing traditional orthodontic treatment. You will need to plan accordingly with these additional treatments.

Whitening Gel Treatment: Every Smile Is Different

Many factors can influence the effectiveness of whitening treatment. Such factors include the amount of staining present and how well your teeth are cared for. Give yourself adequate time to overcome any challenges to teeth bleaching you might encounter.

Possible Side Effects Of Whitening Treatment – Sensitive Teeth?

Dental whitening’s possible side effects are typically mild and temporary. These side effects of whitening gel application generally disappear in a few hours or days following the completion of treatment. They can include sensitive teeth and gum sensitivity, and gum irritation. Sensitive teeth are the main side effect of whitening treatment.

It is recommended that you have your whitening treatment early enough so that such effects can subside before your big event arrives. 

Get a Beautiful, Bright Smile Before Your Wedding Day

With some pre-planning, you will be able to achieve whiter teeth for your wedding day. You can even make it a bridal party experience by inviting your partner and wedding party to get their teeth whitened when you do to make your wedding day photos shine. Call Marielaina Perrone DDS today at 702-458-2929 to schedule your teeth whitening for your big day!