A good smile is a necessity on your wedding day. After all, you’ll be taking pictures that will remain in your family for generations.
Below is some advice on achieving the perfect wedding day smile. Some of it is intuitive and simple; some is complicated and time consuming. Luckily, there are a number of options for budgets of all sizes. And be sure to ask your dentist if they offer wedding day packages!
Tip #1: Maintain a healthy mouth
The best smiles live in the healthiest mouths, and the key to a healthy mouth is regular maintenance. Yes, you’ve heard it before, but brushing and flossing twice daily is the surest guarantee of bright teeth and strong gums. Another bonus: killing bacteria through regular brushing and flossing contributes to good breath – something you definitely want at the altar.
Tip #2: Avoid potential stains
To ensure your whitest, brightest smile, avoid certain foods, drinks and habits in the months and weeks leading up to your wedding.
A partial list:
- Red wine
- Coffee
- Tea
- Cigarettes
- Soda
- Dark fruits and veggies like red grapes, cranberries and beets
Tip #3: Consider whitening and bleaching treatments
There are a variety of methods for whitening or bleaching your teeth (and remember that according to the FDA, whitening restores a tooth’s natural color while bleaching makes it lighter). See your dentist to discuss bleaching and whitening options that are extremely effective.
For an over-the-counter option, Crest Whitestrips are often effective and available in a variety of strengths, including an intense, one-time application.
Tip #4: Go for a final clean and polish
If you can squeeze it in, a last minute trip to the dentist can spruce up your smile for the big day. You’ll be clean, fresh and ready to say “I Do.”
Tip #5: Ponder more extreme options
Below are three techniques that are expensive and require more advance planning.
Veneers or bonding
Veneers are for people who want to permanently alter their smile. These laminate shells fit over your existing teeth (often shaved down), but can prove cost-prohibitive for many.
Clear Aligners
This nearly invisible tooth straightening option requires a lot of lead time; the average Clear Aligner patient wears them for 11 months and they can be pricey. But if you’re planning your wedding more than a year in advance, this could be the solution for you.
Snap on Smile
A fairly new invention, Snap on Smile is quick, painless and, when compared to veneers, reasonably priced. The process requires two office visits. During the first visit, a mold is made of your mouth. A trained technician uses this mold to sculpt your perfect smile with a thin layer of patented dental resin. You receive your resulting “smile” during the second office visit. Snap on Smiles are removable, generally for appearance and not for eating. They usually last from 3 to 5 years.
Lou Shuman is a dental expert and President of Pride Institute. He was one of the first dental advocates for bringing Invisalign to the United States. You can follow Lou on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.
