Nope. This is not an advice post or me trying to wax lyrical about my experience as a bride…..it’s about your Pearly Whites.

*Cheryl, Cameron and Jessica – flashing their enviable pearls.

Yup that’s right TEETH.

Those essential eating implements that along with your luscious lips create what can be the perfect W-day smile.

Only thing is, there’s a lot of folks out there who don’t look after them, don’t know how to and are even afraid to actually visit the dentist.

Now personally I’ve never been afraid to visit he who wears a lab coat and wields a big scary looking drill, not in the slightest.

And why I hear you ask?

Because he’s my Dad.

Yup that’s right – Daddio is a tooth expert.

And as a result ever since I was just a wee girl I have been OBSESSED with having a perfect set.

Here lies the problem then. Because ironically I was not blessed with anything like Hollywood knashers -I suffered from a small jaw and subsequent over-crowding.

As it happens I don’t think to have lovely teeth you have to necessarily have perfectly straight teeth, a little cross-over here…. a little gap there….. can look cute and kooky. And more importantly look like YOU, I’m certainly not about to get on my soapbox and recommend we all should look like identikit versions of the cast from The Hills.

What I do think is important though is that your teeth are clean, well looked after, not discoloured and you are confident enough to flash them to the world come the Big Day.

General Maintenance

1) Invest in a decent toothbrush and clean for 2 minutes twice a day EVERY day. I use an electric version – (Philips Sonicare) that produces a deep clean and actually times the 120 seconds for you. Every dentist worth his salt will tell you electric is best. Well worth the investment.

2) Floss. This drives me mad – why don’t people floss?! Urgh. There is no other way to remove those tiny morsels of left over cake/biscuit/chinese take-away than to use the appropriate flossing action. EVERY DAY PEOPLE. I use the Oral B satin tape as it has a nice minty aroma.

3) Avoiding the nasties. I’m not going to drone on about the obvious here but just in case anyone has forgotten:

Smoking – Kills. Makes your skin wrinkly and your teeth yellow. Why on earth would you bother?

Red Wine/Coffee/Tea – Should be consumed in moderation as lends a distinctive grey tinge to your grin.

Fruit Juice – Again in moderation, the acidity erodes the delicate enamel and causes that weird “see through” not-so-good look.

Excessive sugar – I don’t really think I have to explain. Remember the milk tooth in a glass of cola trick at high school? Yup – it dissolved it. Bleugh.

Bleaching

I like white teeth. It’s as simple as that. They make you look younger, healthier and prettier. Fact.

Not saying we should all aim for a Simon Cowell-esque bright blue glow but as the majority would agree, brighter + whiter = better.

There are two main methods for bleaching, laser and trays.

I prefer the latter as does my Dad and pretty much all of his colleagues, the results seem to be more uniform, last longer and have less sensitivity related side effects.

Laser is still effective of course and certainly the option if you are looking for 24 hour results.

Trays are essentially plastic moulds of your teeth that are fitted by your dentist, you then wear them filled with a peroxide gel from 2 – 4 weeks preferably overnight. More common is the 16% strength version gel that gives quicker results however for sensitive souls ( including yours truly) you can also request a 10% which is far gentler.

If you are considering pearlier whites please PLEASE consult a qualified dental practitioner and ask for recommendations.

Straightening

Ok so here’s the deal. You can have all sorts of veneers to mask an unsightly smile – a lot of celebville certainly do. However they are costly and can be incredibly high maintenance. They also are not guaranteed to last forever and can lead to gum recession. You also have to really investigate the options and what/which dentist will work for you. I have witnessed several horrendous tombstone numbers and I wondered if the individuals in question actually looked better before. Quite possibly I’m betting.

However a great option if:

a) You can afford it and b) the idea of braces fills you with dread.

Which brings me onto of course exactly that – braces.

My wisdom teeth grew through at 19. As a result by the time I was 21 I was the owner of an unattractive shade of too-much-builders-tea off-white wonky ( and not in an endearing way) smile. I was unhappy. I didn’t dare laugh in photo’s. Bottom line? – I wanted them fixed.

My Dad is a dentist not an orthodontist so braces from him were not an option, instead I was sent away to a qualified straightening specialist and 18 months and 2 train tracks later I was the proud owner of some near-perfect teeth.

Afterwards I used bleaching trays for 2-3 weeks to make them extra sparkly.

Only thing is I didn’t wear my retainers properly. ( I know I know – after all that I was a complete div) and after I was engaged ( and became fanatical about my soon-to-be-bridal appearance) noticed that they were not as straight as they once were. I wanted to be a super smiley bride but I didn’t want a mouth full of metal at 27 years of age to achieve it, as I imagine none of you gorgeous lot would either.

So what to do?

Well I went to visit recommended orthodontist Alan Coley-Smith who presented various non-Ugly-Betty type options.

Firstly Invisalign which works on you wearing almost invisible moulds every day for at least 20 hours that get changed every fortnight – they gradually straighten teeth without looking unsightly during the process. Apparently Cheryl Cole ( or is it Tweedy now?) used this method for her own X-Factor worthy pearls.

Secondly “lingual” braces which are essentially quite similar to the more common type of metal bracket appliance but is fitted to the back of your teeth thus preventing you or anyone else being able to actually see it. Genius.

I took the second option – I just knew I wouldn’t have the willpower to not remove the invisalign if I could for any “special occasion” or “fancy dinner” so solely for that reason it was ruled out.

I wore lingual braces for 12 months and had them removed 6 months before the wedding. I now wear a permanent fine wired retainer on both my upper and lower jaw. I honestly forget it’s even there.

I must point out that neither method is cheap – expect to pay from £3000 to £6000 dependent on length/degree of treatment. What I will say though is it must be viewed as an investment. If you look after them well your teeth should last forever. I’m not sure about any of you but I have absolutely NO intention of becoming a gummy granny

I guess what the point of this post is, is not be afraid. Dentist’s aren’t scary. Honestly.

And no amount of super sexy lip gloss or catwalk-worthy hair or knock-’em dead dress is going to take away from the fact that you don’t feel confident cheshire cat-ing it in your wedding photo’s.

It’s supposed to be the happiest day of your life right?

Big Smiley Happy Love

Charlotte xxx

P.S I realise this became rather epic. Please feel free to comment if you have any queries on my own personal experience with braces/bleaching…..

… Sunscreen would be it.

Remember that song? It might not have been Novello quality music, but he sure had a point. We all love the Sun. Particularly when it shines in the UK, like it has a lot recently. But nobody like wrinkles. And thats getting off lightly, there’s still Skin Cancer to dodge.

Charlotte has already said her piece on being Sun Safe, but you know what, it can’t be said enough. We’ve both had nasty experiences with Sun damage and even Skin Cancer, Charlotte having a Melanoma herself, and me losing my Dad to the horrible disease at 13. He was 46 and that could be you. The sun is not lovely, it is harsh and damaging and ruins your skin. So listen up people. We’re not into scaremongering, but sometimes a little shock is what you need to wake up to the truth and I make no apologies for this post potentially being it.

Lecture over, we’re here to share our favourite sunscreens for your holidays/honeymoon this summer. In fact you should be rocking some SPF every sunny day here in the UK. Why do people think it’s ok to wear none because it’s England and end up like a lobster? Plus, remember ladies, no-one wants strap marks in their lovely strapless dress come W-day!

My own personal rules are nothing less than factor 25. That means you are protected in the sun for 25 x longer than you would be wearing no sunscreen. So if you would burn in 5 minutes flat, you’re looking at a maximum of 2 hours in the sun. And after that, it doesn’t start again if you re-apply. Thats ’seek shade’ time, I’m afraid.

If I’m going away somewhere hot I might start with Factor 35 or 40 for the first few days and wean down. But… never less than 25!

And if I’m in the UK? Yup… you guessed it, NEVER LESS THAN 25!

More rules? Stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm. Have a siesta with your intended, read a book in the shade or have a leisurely lunch. Just don’t lie there like an idiot sizzling.

Before we get onto our top picks I should add, that whilst Charlotte’s skin tone is more the pale and interesting variety, I am not the burn-fast type, being quite olive skinned and turning a very golden brown in the sun. I don’t choose these high Spfs to prevent me burning alone, but to protect myself and my skin for the future.

Rebecca’s Top Sunscreen Picks

1. Ambre Solaire SPF 30 a light weight milk formula which rubs in easily and smells lush. £11.99 for 200ml and currently BOGOF in Boots!

3. Clinique Sun Protection Face cream SPF 30 £15.00 for 50ml I use this for bog standard, on the beach with no make-up. Also available in oil-free format.

Charlotte’s Top Sunscreen picks

1. For the Face, No.7 SPF 50 face with skin brightening complex which protects against hyper-pigmentation (dark spots) and the dreaded wrinkles! £10.50 for 50ml.

3. L’Oreal Solar Expertise SPF 25 – light formulas and lovely smells, plus they absorb pretty well and avoid the white-and-shiny look. £10.77 for 150mls.

So there you have it, no excuse not to stay sun safe this year on honeymoon, on the beach, and most importantly AT HOME! All of the above top picks are available from your local Boots.

And now after sharing my favourites I have a plea for the Rock My Wedding readership. Does anyone have a sun cream to recommend that doesn’t stain white clothes yellow? I love wearing white in the summer (and lets face it, it’s nigh on essential when you’re the bride/newlywed , ) but I hate sun cream leaving marks on my clothes.

Any tips would be much appreciated!

Yours Truly,

Rebecca
xoxo