A bright and beautiful smile is what people
notice when they first see you. Not only does a beautiful toothy grin make you
look younger, but it can also make a better impression for that first date, job
interview, or your wedding day. According to Colgate, a smile can boost your
confidence, give you a more youthful appearance, and make you more attractive.
Unfortunately, you don’t often get much time
when it comes to preparing for an interview or a first date. Tooth whitening is
the best option and the most affordable. You can either buy an ADA approved tooth-bleaching
product from your local pharmacy, or schedule a dental appointment for
in-office tooth whitening.
If your dentist can get you in for an
appointment at the last minute the results will be much more impressive and
quicker, and although it may be more expensive, it will give you longer lasting
results as the whitening ingredients that your dentist uses contain a higher
level of hydrogen peroxide. About 15 to 35 percent compared to over the counter
products with just three to ten percent.
During your in-office tooth whitening
procedure, your dentist will apply a bleaching gel before activating it with a
special laser that actually penetrates the teeth. This type of
in-office tooth whitening can be done on your lunch hour giving you dramatic results.
Of course, if you are unable to schedule an
appointment at the last minute or it’s not in your budget, your dentist will
tell you that it is okay to purchase a product over the counter to bleach your
teeth a few days or a week before.
If you are short on time, you can make your
teeth whiter if you wear a lipstick that has blue undertones. Another makeup
trick is to darken your skin with bronzer as this creates contrast making your
smile appear whiter than it actually is.
Try avoiding food and drinks that cause
stains as well. Red wine, berries, black tea, coffee, and even red pasta sauce
can darken your teeth. Give up smoking and you will not only be doing your body
a favor, but your teeth will be whiter as well.
Serious smile
makeovers, that take longer than an hour, are more affordable than ever if you
have are preparing for an event in the future such as a graduation, reunion or
wedding. Schedule an appointment with your dentist who can determine if you are
good candidate for dental veneers, bonding, tooth colored fillings or other
dental restoration procedures that will improve your smile.
