In the months before your wedding, you're likely to invest in a number of cosmetic alterations and improvements that will ensure that you look your best on the day you say your vows. You might get a hair cut, go on a diet, and, if you're like many people, you'll also get your teeth whitened. Teeth bleaching is an increasingly popular item on the to-do list of brides and grooms to be. If you've never bleached your teeth before, you'll want to understand the process, select the best bleaching option for you and time the procedure correctly so that the course of treatment will be completed before your wedding.

Bleaching Options

There are a number of different ways to whiten your teeth. The option you choose for yourself will depend in part on the level of discoloration of your teeth, the amount of time you're willing to dedicate to the whitening process, and how quickly you'd like to see results. Here are a few of the most common whitening options:

• Whitening Toothpaste. Whitening toothpaste can take up to six weeks to have an effect, and it really only whitens your teeth a little bit. Used in conjunction with a tooth polishing from the dentist, whitening toothpaste can help if your teeth are only slightly less white than what you want them to be. 
• Whitening Strips. Most over-the-counter whitening strips must be worn multiple times per day. Treatments can take a couple weeks to complete. Whitening strips are more effective than whitening toothpaste, but less effective than teeth bleaching services acquired at the dentist office. 
• Dentist Office Teeth Bleaching. Dentists have access to tools and products that can bleach teeth much more effectively than whitening strips and toothpaste. Teeth bleaching can require as little as one visit, depending on the type of procedure. 

Timing

Given the amount of time it can take to whiten your teeth, it's a good idea to start your teeth bleaching procedure one or two months before your wedding. Once the treatments are completed, avoid drinking coffees, teas and red wine in the days and weeks leading up to your wedding. Foods that stain your teeth are likely to return your teeth back to their original state, or at least lessen the effects of your teeth bleaching. 

Additional Tips

Even if you decide not to have your teeth whitened by your dentist, it's a good idea to have your teeth cleaned and polished before beginning your at-home treatments. This can help the whitening take effect, and may even enhance the results of the whitening when it's finished. Talk with a dentist like George S Cochran DDS to see how you can best prepare your smile for your big day.