Protecting Our Kids' Smiles

How far away is your big day? And how far are you with your plans for what will probably be the biggest day of your life?

Not many brides think of booking an appointment with a cosmetic dentist as part of their wedding day preparations. Considering the number of photos that you'll take on this day and the precious memories that these photos will continue to hold, you might want to ensure that your teeth are "photogenic", so to speak. Here are a few insights.

DIY Whitening For Discoloured Teeth

You definitely wouldn't want your discoloured teeth to be a prominent feature of your wedding day photos. If your wedding date is several months away, you might have ample time to whiten teeth on your own.

In order to do this, you'll need to buy DIY whitening strips. These strips are often made of plastic and they contain hydrogen peroxide, which is responsible for the whitening effect. You'll need to place these strips over the discoloured teeth for a specified timespan (as indicated on the product packaging).

Whitening strips can be bought over the counter or you can get then from your dentist. The advantage of getting them from your dentist is that the dentist can increase the quantity of hydrogen peroxide contained in the strips for accelerated results.

Depending on the extent of discolouration and the frequency with which whitening strips are used, it could take anything from two weeks to a couple of months before you're able to achieve the desired results.

Laser Tooth Whitening

If your big day is just around the corner, DIY whitening strips might not be the best solution. Laser whitening would be a faster and more effective solution for you.

Laser tooth whitening also uses hydrogen peroxide. The laser whitening machine is produces beams of light that enhance the whitening effect of peroxide. Laser whitening is done at the dentist's office and it's a one-time affair. Laser whitening achieves the desired effect shortly after the procedure. Thus, you can book an appointment with your dentist a day or two before the big day and you'll be sure of walking down the aisle with perfectly white teeth.

The laser whitening procedure can be quite costly. You should compare quotes from a number of cosmetic dentists before you decide on your preferred practitioner. You might end up saving a significant amount that can be used for other wedding-related expenses.

Contact a professional such as Dr Michael Finkelstein Dental for more info.