A Nice Day For A White Wedding Smile

Whether you're a bride or a groom, a lot goes into looking your best for the wedding – from choosing and fitting a beautiful gown or tuxedo to having your hair styled and having professional makeup applied. With all that effort, don't overlook one of the most striking parts of your appearance: a beautiful smile.

If you want a gorgeous smile in your wedding photographs, there's quite a bit you can do:

• Practice in the mirror. It might feel forced at first, but this is how you can tell what works best for you. Try tilting your head slightly to one side or the other to find the most flattering angle. See how long you can hold your smile. Try thinking about different things that make you happy to get a smile that reaches your eyes.
• Go off-center, but don't tilt forward. You won't see many flattering photographs that are exactly head-on – that gives a strange mug-shot or ID card quality to a portrait. Turn your head slightly one way or the other or tilt it sideways instead. However, beware of tilting your head too far forward – this will give you a weak chin and make you look heavier overall.
• Moisten your teeth before photographs. If you know you're about to have a photo shoot, run your tongue over your teeth. This will make them slightly brighter and give them a little sparkle. Moistening your teeth will also make smiling repeatedly easier.
• Whiten, but don't over-whiten. One of the advantages of having your teeth whitened by a dentist, instead of an at-home kit, is the fact that you can have the shade of your smile matched to you. Teeth look best when they are in-tune with the whites of your eyes; this makes them appear white without looking false or distracting. Real teeth are also a subtle mix of shades, and teeth that are too monochromatic can look strangely plastic.
• Take care of your gums. Make sure you're flossing regularly as well as discussing any gum problems with your dentist. If you have gingivitis, consider adding a mouthwash to your oral care routine. No one pays much attention to healthy gums – they just flatter the teeth you have. But you don't want unhealthy or shrunken gums to be a distraction.
• Remember – it's a joyous day! Weddings can be stressful, but your wedding day is also going to be one of your great memories. You don't need a Hollywood smile – you need to be happy and confident, and that will come across in a beautiful smile that's uniquely you. 

If you need help whitening your teeth, trust the professionals at Karla M. Kreger D.D.S.  

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