With summer in full swing and more businesses opening back up, the next few months of your calendar are probably filled with weddings, graduations, vacations, job interviews, and other special events. As excited as you are for these occasions, part of you feels self-conscious about your stained teeth. Maybe you’ve looked into professional teeth whitening in order to boost your confidence this summer. However, you might be wondering, “How soon before an event should I whiten my teeth?” Read on to find out!
First, Consider Your Budget and Time Constraints
The perfect time to begin whitening your teeth depends on a few factors, but the most important ones are your budget and your time limit. Because there is a multitude of teeth whitening solutions available, each with their own effectiveness and treatment time, you’ll need to ask yourself a couple of questions first:
- How much money do I want to spend on brightening my smile?
- How much time to do I have until my big event?
Once you’ve answered these questions, then you can start narrowing down your options.
Choosing the Best Teeth Whitening Option for You
Now that you’ve thought about your time and budget, you can move forward with the teeth whitening process. If you still have at least a couple of weeks before your event, then professional take-home whitening trays from your dentist are the more cost-effective and convenient choice. By wearing these custom-made trays and super-potent bleaching gel for about 30 minutes a day, your smile should be several shades brighter after just 10 to 14 days!
That being said, sometimes you don’t have that much time before your event. If you learned of the event on short notice, or if you’ve been delaying whitening your teeth, you’ll need to pay slightly more to achieve the results you want. Luckily, your dentist can conveniently and dramatically brighten your pearly whites in a single appointment! They’ll apply the professional-grade whitening gel to your teeth as you sit in the dental chair. In only one hour, you’ll safely end up with the same results as two weeks of take-home whitening.
Keeping Your Smile Bright
No matter which method of teeth whitening you choose, good oral hygiene is essential in maintaining your newly brightening smile and preventing new stains from setting in. Remember to brush and floss every day and visit your dentist for routine checkups at least twice a year.
Are you ready to look your best and make this summer one to remember? If not, then ask your cosmetic dentist about their teeth whitening options!
About the Author
Dr. Donald Marks has been a dentist in State College, PA since the early 1990s. During that time, he has formed lifelong relationships with his patients and helped them maintain bright, healthy smiles. He offers both in-office and take-home teeth whitening treatments to help you achieve safe, effective results. To learn which solution is right for you, you can contact Donald Marks Family Dentistry at (814) 234-0329.
