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When Should I Get Teeth Whitening Before My Big Event?

A bride being unveiled at her wedding

If you have a wedding, a reunion, or a big sales pitch coming up, you’re probably spending a fair amount of time preparing. You may have planned your outfit and styled your hair so that you look as good as possible, but have you considered that your teeth might need a little bit of attention too?

If you want a shining, beautiful smile, teeth whitening can give you the results you’re looking for! It’s easy, painless, and in-office whitening can be completed within a single appointment. But making sure that you look your best on your big day means you have to time the procedure properly—here’s when you should get your teeth whitening treatment if you want to be prepared for an event.

How Does Teeth Whitening Work?

Teeth whitening involves placing a bleaching solution on the teeth and letting it soak into the enamel. This can be done within one appointment in-office, often within less than an hour. However, because it’s such a simple treatment, it can also be done from the comfort of your home. Professional take-home treatments take a little bit longer to work, but they produce the same great results.

When Should I Get Teeth Whitening Before an Event?

Theoretically, you could get an in-office whitening treatment the day before your event. However, in the days after treatment, most patients report feeling a little bit of discomfort. That might not be a problem for a pitch meeting, but for an event where you’ll want to enjoy the food, you might want to have the procedure done a few weeks before the big day.

Take-home whitening treatments take longer than in-office treatments, usually requiring 14 days to see results. The teeth can also be a little sensitive for a few weeks after the treatment, so it’s recommended that you start take-home whitening 1-2 months before your event.

How to Keep Teeth White

If you’re waiting for your teeth to return to normal before your event, that means there are at least a few weeks after your whitening treatment when you don’t want your results to fade. Here are a few things you might want to do to keep your teeth shining.

  • Stay away from coffee, red wine, and other drinks that can stain teeth
  • Brush twice a day with whitening toothpaste
  • Stay hydrated, so saliva can wash away leftover food

Teeth whitening is incredibly easy, so even if you’re busy planning a big event, you should be able to get a smile that you can be proud of. With a little bit of planning, your teeth can make a positive impression that people will remember.

About Our Practice

At Pelican Landing Dental, we know that to get our patients the smile they deserve, we have to understand their unique needs. We have seven incredible dentists on our staff, meaning our patients get one-on-one attention from their doctors and benefit from our practice’s diverse areas of expertise. We also want to empower you to take charge of your treatment, so we’ll make sure you understand the reasoning behind our actions every step of the way. If you have any questions, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (239) 948-2111.

About The Author

Dr. Lacy Gilbert is a family and implant dentist with a fellowship in general dentistry. She was recognized with the Quintessence Award in Clinical Achievement for her outstanding efforts. Dr. Gilbert had advanced clinical training in the latest dental techniques with the Southeastern Academy of Prosthodontics, Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society, and the AEGD residency program at UCLA. Additionally, she has a mastership in dental implants.