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….. 
Love it. Great recommendation on the brush by the way. I usually count to 200 out loud and end up with toothpaste all down my shirt for work.
Classy.
Totally agree on the why spend 3k on a dress and not bother with your teeth argument. I feel the same way about hair and make-up
Okay so on the premise that ‘no question is a silly question’ and ‘if you’re thinking it so is someone else…’
Do the whitening toothpastes make any difference? If they do which ones do you find are the best?
I had my teeth straightened with Invisalign and can definitely recommend it. It does require willpower – and I won’t deny that the first day full day I wore them I much of in tears (take the day off, you’ll need it!) and wondering what on earth I was doing. But, like anything, you stop noticing, you get used to having to remove them for every meal (and it’s a good way to stop reaching for the office treats!) and eventually you have lovely teeth. Mine took quite a while because my teeth were so bad, but by the wedding I was smiling like a lunatic with my mouth open for everyone to admire. They cost a lot (around £4500) but if your teeth are less bad than mine were (which likely they will be), then it will cost less. And people really don’t notice – I told very few of my friends and those I didn’t had no idea.
*Whoops – the line that doesn’t make sense is supposed to read “I spent much of it in tears”
Woo I love early morning comments!
Rebecca – that made me laugh, The sonicare is great and you just replace the heads every few months.
Rachel – I use Colgate Max White with Micro Crystals ( I know fancy!) it seems to make my teeth feel really clean and doesn’t have that horrid aftertaste that some tooth pastes do. I can’t vouch for how much whitening effect it has as mine are pretty white from bleaching anyway but I have friends who say they notice a difference. Pearl Drops is also good.
Emma – Good for you Pet, it’s amazing what a difference is makes isn’t it?
Charlotte xxx
Must admit I have a bit of a teeth obsession, can’t leave the house without, flossing, brushing and rinsing with mouthwash. Though despite my good intentions my gums have started receeding!? Slightly miffed also that my fiance doesn’t bother with his teeth as much as me and his are perfect……sods law!
I had two veneers to replace my ‘vampire fangs’ I had as a kid. I got them done about 10 years ago and love it, I just need regular check ups. At the time they cost £400 each but totally worth it.
However, I’m a bit paranoid they’ll fall off so I do avoid biting into apples and slice them instead! Dentist reassures me it’s fine though!
Kathryn – you sound like me in the morning! have you consulted your dentist on your gums? You could also be over brushing ( I am guilty of this) – book an appointment and discuss the recession as there may be some preventative measures.
Kitty – My husband has two veneers in the front and they are amazing – you would never know. As a result he and I ( because of my retainers) are really careful eating certain foods. Any kind of fruit consumption is like a military operation!!!!
Charlotte xxx
I had train tracks for a year before my wedding as I was desperate for a reasonable smile! I’m so happy I had it done, and recently took my wedding photos into my orthodontist to show them the great job they did! I now have the wire retainer behind the teeth which is Brilliant! Honestly, I don’t even have to wear retainers! Perfect!
Great post Charlotte! x
Charlotte can I ask about whitening with bleach and the pain?? I know it varies for everyone but how sore did you find it, as you say you have sensitive teeth. I do too and am too scared to try bleaching!!! But would love a whiter smile x
I also had Invisalign to straighten my teeth for our wedding, as I’d always been unhappy with my front teeth crossing over. Lots of people said not to bother as it was a lot of money, but I can honestly say it was the best money ever spent as I now feel confident similing. My treatment wasn’t due to finish until after the wedding, so my dentist said I could try and change my braces every 7 – 10 days rather than every two weeks. I managed to shave quite a few weeks so I had my teeth cleaned and whitened (using the trays which I still use now for top ups!) in time for me to feel happy to smile during all the weddding photos.
If you’re worried about the cost of braces just think if you wear your retainers at night then your teeth will be straight for years after your wedding. If you’re thinking about it then you should go and talk to your dentist and see some of the videos on the Invisalign website which shows how people’s teeth can change over the course of their treatment.
I’ve just had this conversation over breakfast with husband-to-be! I’ve booked a dentist appointment for tomorrow and I’m having a full clean, general check up and discuss bleaching options in time for the big day next July.
I’m really keen to have it done, luckily my teeth are really straight and nice it’s just a case of them being a bit yellower than I’d like! However, the fella’s are…well…really stained and quite crooked and he’s not interested in doing anything about it!! Any suggestions for how I can persuade him that having white (as opposed to chocolatey) teeth for the big day would be better?!
I am currently sporting a full on brace (train tracks & 4 teeth removed) which fingers crossed will be taken off 6 weeks before the wedding! I can honestly say the best money I have ever spent, feel so much more confident can’t wait to see the results. Also, friends and family are always telling me how much better they look and an extra bonus my lips look more pouty! x
Lorna – brilliant! so glad you felt confident!
Roz – I avoid anything really hot or cold whilst bleaching but I honestly find the 10% fine. My teeth are a bit sore in the morning but nothing a neurofen can’t take care of.
Lorna H – Hmmm a difficult one, sometimes it takes a close up photo to really make someone realise the extent of the staining, try capturing him whilst wearing a white T-shirt! Seriously though I think once he sees your great bleaching results he will want them too. Also maybe the videos as mentioned by Ros would persuade him on the straightening front once he could see the results/how much can be achieved?
Pria – Oh yes I know! my top teeth were brought forward slightly so I now have a sexier top lip too – bonus!! Your smile will be W-day fabulous!!!
Charlotte xxx
I have slightly wonky lateral teeth (the ones next to my front teeth) and for the moment, am not prepared to do anything about them. My mum has the same as does my nan who’s unlikely to be with us at the time of our wedding. I like being able to see the family tree in my mouth!
I’m inclined to look into them being whitened though. Who can resist a little more sparkle before the Big Day?!
I had train tracks up to last year (I’m in my early 30′s), ceramic ones on the top set and metal ones on the bottom.
Best money I ever spent and would recommend anyone conerned about getting braces in your 20s/30s and later, to go for it.
I’m getting married in 6 weeks and I will be confident with a nice smile on the day.
I notice everyones teeth now, maybe a result of me having braces? I think it’s so important to have clean healthy teeth, they make a great first impression!
Ooooh, love this post.
I had my teeth whitened using trays years ago and have never had to do them again since, although the recommended time lapse between top ups is 6 monthly.
However, I have slightly overlapping front teeth that at certain angles on photos look really obvious. It’s certainly not something I’m self conscious about but I do wish I’d had it sorted pre-wedding as I always see it in photos of myself, including some of my fav moments of the wedding where all I see in the photo is my offending tooth!!!
I’m about to look into Invisalign – don’t think I could hack a full brace, but I’ll definitely explore all the options!
Great post Charlotte
Xoxo
I had always been unhappy with how my teeth looked as I had to many teeth for the size of my mouth so they were crooked and the protruded out as well.
So at the age of 23 i had a few teeth taken out and I got myself train track braces and both my upper and lower teeth. I had full metal braces on my lower teeth but i had ceramic braces on my upper teeth which were fantastic as they were very subtle. They were exactly like the metal train track braces but they were tooth coloured and slightly see through.
Fast forward 2 1/2 years and my braces were taken off 3 weeks ago (i have to wear a retainer at night but i can live with that) and i am super pleased with the results. They are not perfect hollywood teeth but they are perfect to me as i still look like me but just with a much better smile and i do tend to smile a lot more now.
It was definitely worth the small amount of pain and investment. I am now planning my wedding knowing that i wont be worrying about my smile on our big day
My name is Jenny and I have a MASSIVE fear of the dentist.
I went to the Hertford Smile Clinic a few months ago, for in chair laser teeth whitening( Zoom!) – I wanted pearly white gnashers for the wedding, having not visited the dentist for about 2 years they gave me a list as long as my arm of work I needed doing, but alas they would still whiten my teeth for me, hurrah!
It hurt like fook.
The sensitivity got too much and I quit half way through, committing to using the bleaching trays at home instead. I would recommend using the trays at home – and save yourself a few hundred quid!
I subsequently took a trip to my local Dentist, panicking about what the posh dental clinic lady had told me about my teeth and gums – 3 fillings and one hygienist appointment later – voila! Perfect teeth.
A very valuable (and expensive) lesson learnt there, I will be going for check ups every 6 months from now on.
Mr O on the other hand, doesn’t fuss too much about his teeth, visits the Dental guy every 6 months and has perfect teeth and gums. Jammy little toerag!
Sorry for the epic comment
xx
I’m going to the dentists tomorrow and have always wanted perfect teeth. I had braces aged 12 to sort out the massive gap from sucking my thumb but my when my wisdom teeth came through they’ve wonkied all my front ones up and I can’t afford to get them fixed now. I’m the same as Rebecca, it looks fine from the front but from the side it’s really noticeable. I also have a broken front tooth which the cap keeps coming off so should probably get that veneered.
Yeay teeth, I can add my two pennies worth here!!
As a teen I had teeth that my dad described as looking like they had been thrown in to my mouth (thanks daddy!) and so had to endure train tracks for about 4 years and spent my adolesence talking with my hand over my mouth. However, as soon as I had them removed I was like a cheshire cat!
Fast forward 15 years and I suddenly noticed my once perfect teeth were now gappy and twisty again (not too mention yellowing) and so I hopped off to the dentist to see about invisalign. I was told that I should have been given a retainer after I’d had my train tracks removed and that because I’d had peggies removed my teeth were now splaying to try and fill the extra space available (apparantly my dentist said he has a lot of 30 something ladies with the same problems).
Anyhow, unfortunately invisalign wasnt for me as I would have ended up with rather than lots of little gaps just one big one on each side, nice! The only option was invisalign and then veneers on four teeth to fill in the big gaps (mega expensive) or a full set of shiners (8 to be precise and demi expensive). I didnt like the idea of basically making redundant my perfectly fine set of gnashers by having veneers so left feeling a bit downhearted. Fast forward again one year to precisely four weeks before my wedding and the evening before my hen weekend and I was lay in the dentist chair having 8 ultra thin veneers fitted!
So why the change of heart? Well I suppose I spent the year in between studying my teeth and basically hating them, every facebook photo I felt I looked older than my years due to the small gappy teeth I displayed and spent many an hour detagging. It was actually Mr brideandchic though who made me have an epiphany when he asked me why don’t I get them done and I replied that veneers are permanent and you cant remove them once they are on. In a straightforward man style he said “but why would you ever want to take them off?” Erm…
And I sit here and I can honestly say it was the best thing I have ever done, they are beyond amazing and I wish I could show you before and afters! It is astounding how much of a difference your teeth can make to your whole appearance and I absolutely love them. I look at my wedding photos now and shudder to think how I would have felt about them if I hadnt had my teeth fixed and what is funny is that some people can’t tell what it is that is different about me. It sounds OTT but I feel so much happier about my looks and instead of clamping my mouth shut on photos I now beam the biggest whitest smile!
For me, the process did not hurt as I only had a very small bit of prep work on them, not like on ten years younger where they basically file away half of their teeth! Like Mr O’Shea I am careful about what and how I eat but that is a small price to pay. I had to have my own teeth whitened before having them fitted and chose Zoom! which was instant and painless… until about an hour after when you get the worse shooting pains on random teeth at random times (like the feeling when you suck in cold air) but it wears off after 24 hours or so.
Sorry…. a bit carried away!
xx
How do you always know what I need to know about? I’m at this moment looking into teeth whitening and trying to work out what the best option is, so thank you Charlotte for this timely post!
I don’t have reeeally bad teeth, but I would prefer them to be whiter, especially when wearing a white dress! Am I right in thinking that a dentist provided trays are the best option? What sort of price are they?
xx
Brideand chic – that’s interesting, I have a problem gap in my teeth that as I get older will gradually get worse. Where did you have your slimline veneers done? I may have to invest in years to come!
Fliss – Yes Pet trays seem to be the most preferred option by dentists, expect to pay between £200 ( sometimes they have offers on) and £400 for treatment.
Charlotte xxx
Definitley looking into teeth whitening! I too am a sucker for teeth hygiene and work super hard on it (again, Steve really doesn’t and yet has lovely teeth – how do these boys do it?!). When I was younger I had a lot of overcrowding and had lots of teeth out for this reason (so many that I now only have 24 teeth) but despite my best efforts, they are still not as white as I would like.
So I will now look into trays – totally worth it, not only for the wedding but also my own confidence! x
This is REALLY spooky as I have just come back from the dentist after inquiring about straightening my frankly ‘bugs bunny’ teeth! (I knew that thumb sucking into my late teens was going to get me back one day…..)
It’s really funny as its never seriously bothered me before but as soon as that diamond was on my finger i was like ‘I need to sort my nashers out!’
I’m going back to the dentist to have impressions and an x-ray taken of my teeth. He will then send this off to Invisalign who make a 3d model of my teeth in a ‘before and after’ kind of way.
Once I see this I can decided whether to spend the 3,500 on this treatment. I think i already know I want to do it, it is a lot of money but like you other lovelies have said, it’s an investment in your confidence, that’s priceless to me.
P.s – Charlotte, I love your honesty and dedicated research, I think you gave me more info than the dentist did!
xxx
Brideandchic – I had exactly the same problem! Lots of teeth out & train tracks on both in my early teens to correct the overcrowding and subsequent twisting. Result was lovely straight nashers thanks to a fab orthodentist
apperently I should’ve had a retainer to keep things ship shape but now my teeth are moving back (they progress forward as we get older?). The ‘degredation’ isn’t too bad at the moment, it feels worse than it looks in the sense I can feel the teeth beingout of line with my tongue but hubby to be sees no difference.
Until late last year
I’ve been to see the orthodentist and I’m going to start
Silly iPhone!
I plan to start the ‘braces behind the teeth’ in the New Year. It’s after the wedding but I’m confident enough with my toothy pegs to smile away on the big day anyway! It’s really good to hear your success story Charlotte as I was starting to wonder if it would be worth the money (it could be used to pay a chunk off my student loan!) but your pearly white teeth are beautiful and I now have no doubt at all in my mind.
So here’s a huge ‘hug’ & a massive thank you xx
Me too! I have a lingual brace in right now, and about 6 months left to go befoe it comes off, which means I will have it in for teh wedding and no one will be any the wiser. I too had overcrowding and then my wisdom teeth came through and started pushing everything forward and out of my mouth.
I can’t even begin to tell you how much better I feel now that they are much straighter and look decidedly snazzier. I hadn’t realised how bad they made me feel.
Also, I think dental work is something that brides are really beginning to consider more seriously as I’ve been to a few wedding fairs where orthodontists have stalls. That seems pretty insane. I originally only enquired because I noticed my teeth were getting wonkier and wonkier and saw this as an investment not to end up looking like Janet Street-Porter!
I too have lingual braces right now on both arches! I always hated my teeth, but it wasnt until getting engaged and realising that i’d be photographed that I decided I had to do something about it. My teeth really did make me feel down and held me back confidence wise. Im only 10 months in to a 2 year ‘sentence’ so I will also have my braces on when I get married in may next year, but no one will know! Although I wont be finished, my smile has already improved and im alot more confident. No regrets! (even through the painful adjustments!)
Sorry, silly iPhone keeps eating my post
I was going to say that I plan to start the with the fixed braces in the New Year though I did have doubts in my mind about a) if it would work and b) worth the money when the movement isn’t worrying me to much yet. But after seeing the results with your perfectly straight pearly white toothy pegs Charlotte, along with the knowledge they’ll only get worse, I’m definatly going to get the braces fitted. All doubts have gone! It’s after the wedding day but I’ll grinning like a maniac anyway
Thank you!
Sorry for the multiple posts
Charlotte- Had mine done at Ultimate Smile Spa in Manchester, all lovely staff that put me right at ease (and my friend who is a dentist saw mine at my wedding and said they were really very good and until she looked up close she thought I’d just had them whitened)!
x
When I was two, I got pushed off of a swing and lost my two front teeth – they didn’t grow back until I was 9. After many years of having to sing “All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth” I had top and bottom train tracks put on when I was 13, they came off just before I turned 17. I learned to love my braces, (once the pain, pulling, migraines and cutting of inner mouth went away) mainly because I was stuck with them for 4 years and I’m good at making the most of a bad thing.
That and it never stopped me snogging my boyfriend, so what was the issue
Now, I have great (and straight) teeth. Embrace the brace I say
Although I have been massively considering the whitening for the big day..
As ever, amazing post
x
Thankyou so much for this post. I have hated my smile for so many years. I had horrible dracula teeth as a child, and went through the traditional brace proceedure as a teenager only to find that as soon as the wisdom teeth came through everything moved back. I now never smile with an open mouth in photos.
With t-minus 10 months until the wedding, I have gathered the courage to head off to Aqua Dental Spa in London tomorrow morning for my first consultation.
Im nervous as it’s a big finanical commitment to make in the year of the wedding. We’ve just bought a flat and i’ve blown a huge chunk of the wedding budget on the venue of my dreams.
But in a moment of pure selfishness, I want to feel confident on my wedding day, and not fear that a wedding guest may snap a photo of me with my fangs hanging out.
Thanks for the post Charlotte, it’s good to know that other b2b’s have had similar situations.
x
Great post and interesting reading. As always Charlotte, you have a knack of tapping into the mood and concerns of the bride-to-be
As it happens, I’ve just completed my teeth whitening (trays). I had “superseal” trays made which really hug the individual teeth and have given an overall good result. The sensitivity at the start was a bit arrrghhhh but my dentist said if it got too bad, just take the night off and go back to it the day after. I did this and it was fine. That and the aid of Nurofen when required!
Am v.happy to flash my white gnashers now!! You don’t realise until you really study your smile in a photo and then compare the new pearly whites with the old photo, just how many shades whiter can make you look so much fresher and most importantly, younger
i’ve got wonky teeth despite 18 months of train track braces that i wore about 10 years ago, i just couldnt keep the overnight retainers in, i would take them out at night(not conciously!) and wake with the imprint of it in my back/thigh/butt!
2 months to the big day and i’m not happy with my smile but £0 to do anything about it, so i’m perfecting my no teeth smile, and hoping my photographer will make them whiter in photoshop(much more economical!) should the teeth be caught on show!
In 2009 at the age of 27 I decided to have train tracks again, after 5 years of treatment as a teenager, as my top teeth had receded at a 45 degree angle and looked awful, and affected my bite as well. I am extremely lucky as I had my treatment on the NHS as they had treated me as a teenager and it was structural rather than purely cosmetic. I made the decision to have them put on, and then a month before the appointment, my boyfriend proposed – he thought I would prefer to get engaged before I had a mouthful of metal! Initially I thought our wedding would have to wait until Spring 2011 but luckily treatment went a lot faster and my orthodontist gave us the go ahead for an October 2010 wedding (and even said he would take them off for the wedding if needs be and put them back on after, bless him!). In the end I only had to wear them for 6 months, finishing in May this year, and have now got a permanent wire behind my top teeth which, like others have said, I don’t even notice. I also have to wear retainers at night for the rest of my life but that doesn’t bother me as it’s worth it to have straight teeth. I can honestly say that it was the best decision I ever made; I didn’t do it specifically for the wedding (as that wasn’t even on the cards when I made the decision!) but I am so happy to think that my wedding photos will feature me with straight teeth! It was hard having metal train tracks as an adult, but more and more people are having it done so it’s not that unusual to see an adult sporting them, and to be honest, a lot of people never even twigged I had them! So if anyone is considering it, do it – it’s a relatively short investment for a lifetime’s result.
As a note for Linzi, if your previous treatment was on the NHS it is definitely worth contacting them to see if they’ll take you on again. Retainers now are also a lot more comfortable – like you, I used to unconsciously remove mine as they were so painful but the ones I have now are like gumshields and a lot more comfortable.
Wow Ladies so glad you like this slightly random post!!! And I am REALLY REALLY happy that so many of you now have the confidence to get bleached/straightened or what ever it is you want to do to get W-day smile perfect.
So looking forward to seeing all of you all cheshire Cat-ing it!!!!
Charlotte xxx
Fab post, and one close to home for me. After ten years of avoiding the dentist through a huge, uncontrollable fear – with the help of some beta-blockers – I am currently undergoing a course of dental work to help me have great teeth for my wedding next year. Its a huge amount of money to invest when money is so tight due to the wedding, but it will be more than worth it for a healthy mouth. I’m still debating whether to ‘treat’ myself to whitening….I will have to find a way to sneak it on to the wedding budget!
Brilliant post Charlotte – I have to admit, I had admired your teeth in your super-glam wedding photos!
My decision to undergo the treatment as an adult was based on an ongoing hatred of my crooked teeth on one side, which meant that I always stood a particular way in photos to hide them; and problems with my bite, which meant I was getting uneven wear on my front teeth.
I have just finished my 21.5 months in fixed braces (ceramic on top, metal elsewhere), and can honestly say it was the best decision I ever made! I didn’t get engaged until last year, but obviously, knowing that my teeth would be straight for the wedding was a big bonus
It was expensive (£3,600), but it was money I will never regret spending as I now have straight teeth that I am very proud of. I wear a removal retainer overnight, and have fixed retainers behind the front 4 teeth top and bottom.
For anybody who is toying with the idea of getting their teeth fixed, I say “go for it”. Trust those of us who have been there, and done that – you will not regret it!
Can I ask a bit of advice? I have spoken to my dentist who has advised that teeth whitening is completely doable at a cost of around £500 and would need to be done three months prior to my wedding.
Now, I am all rared up for it (desperate for whiter teeth!) but obviously, especially with wedding saving, £500 is a lot of moola.
Will it be worth it?
I was very interested to see this post as I’m 28 and getting married in two weeks’ time… while wearing braces. I’ve got ceramic (see-through) brackets on my upper front teeth and metal ones elsewhere as part of orthognathic treatment started earlier this year.
My fiance actually popped the question shortly after the braces went on and, having taken the decision before I started that I wasn’t going to let the braces affect anything I’d normally do, we set the date for this summer! The braces have already straightened up my wonky front two teeth loads so I’m embracing the look (pun intented) and still intend to look gorgeous and have a fabulous wedding!
Anyone else got married while wearing their braces?
Hi I’m Roxy and I am absolutely terrified of going to the dentist! A few years ago I lost a tooth because I daren’t get a filling! Boy do I regret that now that I am getting married. I never smile showing my teeth and I’m really aware of the gap, however I have decided to try and put my fear aside and get them sorted and today I have an appointment for a filling. I was petrified but after reading all of your comments I feel much better. It kind of feels like fate as this is the first time I have looked at Rock My Wedding! So wish me luck and hopefully I’ll have a fab set of gnashers for my big day