I Have a Special Event Coming Up: When Should I Start Whitening My Teeth?

If you have a wedding, graduation, gala, or some other sort of special event coming up, you’re probably interested in looking your best for the occasion. However, stains or discoloration in your teeth might make you a little worried about smiling for the photographers who will be there. Luckily, your local dentist provides teeth whitening treatments that can remove stubborn stains and dental discoloration. Here’s a brief guide to how long these treatments take and when you should start them so your teeth can be white and bright for the big day.

How Does Teeth Whitening Work?

Your teeth bite, tear, and grind up a lot of material over the years, but some foods and beverages can leave a lasting mark on your smile. Foods and drinks that are heavily colored can leave dyes and pigments stuck in the enamel of your teeth, causing reddish, yellowish, or purplish stains and discoloration. Smoking can also lend your smile an unpleasant yellow color.

Professional teeth whitening treatments work by applying specially formulated whitening agents to the teeth. This lifts these troublesome stains and pigments, creating a brighter smile that can last for years if maintained with excellent oral hygiene. Teeth whitening treatments from your dentist can leave your teeth up to ten shades whiter and come as in-office procedures or take-home kits.

How Does In-Office Teeth Whitening Work?

During an in-office teeth whitening procedure, your dentist will place barriers in your mouth to protect your soft tissues and then apply a few coats of whitening agent to your teeth. The formula will be given some time for its stain-removing process to work, and then the teeth will be treated with a special ultraviolet light. This procedure takes only an hour or two and delivers dazzling results.

How Do At-Home Whitening Kits Work?

While you can find many teeth whitening products at the pharmacy, the results of these products do not measure up to those of the whitening kits your dentist can provide. Professional teeth whitening kits include powerful whitening gel and dental trays customized to fit your teeth. They only require that you apply the gel to the trays and wear them over your teeth for an hour every day for two weeks. You’ll have a stunning and shiny smile that you’ll love to show off.

Of course, it’s not a bad idea to complete your treatment a week or two ahead of time so your teeth have a chance to recover and remineralize before you enjoy any of the foods offered at the event. Consulting with your dentist can determine if teeth whitening is a suitable treatment for you.

About the Author

Dr. James T. Sierra earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and has completed more than 1,200 hours of continuing education. He is a Fellow of both the Academy of General Dentistry and the International Congress of Oral Implantology. His office in Friendswood, TX offers general, restorative, emergency, and cosmetic dentistry. For more information on what teeth whitening might be able to do for you, contact the office online or dial (281) 482-2631.