KC Weddings .net - Whiter Teeth on any Budget

Whiter Teeth on Any Budget
By Caurie Anne Putnam

Color is one of the biggest elements of your wedding day. What color bridesmaid’s dresses? What color tablecloths? What color flowers? What color lipstick? One question you should be asking, "What color teeth?"

Having the whitest teeth possible is crucial on the day when you will have the most eyes and camera lenses focused on you. As the wife of a dentist and guinea pig to many types of teeth whitening, here is my list of teeth whitening options:

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 are it is very costly and it is not covered by insurance. The one hour session typically costs $600 - $1,000 or more. Also, the procedure can be very painful for those of us with sensitive teeth.

Dual whitening and trays
Safer for sensitive teeth and less expensive than laser whitening, dual 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 filled with whitening gel to wear in your mouth for about an hour each day.

You can pass on the dual whitening and just wear the trays, but you will have to wear them longer each day (about 3-4 hours). This is the least expensive professional option.

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 just in time for your wedding day.

There are numerous whitening toothpastes you can buy, and there are also whitening strips. The strips stick to your teeth and invisibly lift off stains. They stay on the teeth for 30 minutes, twice each day and cost about $30 a box. Using strips and whitening toothpastes creates great results.

For more information on any of these techniques please consult with your dentist. Your dentist can help you decide what approach is right for your teeth and budget. Happy wedding and whitening!