How to Make Teeth Whiter in Pictures

Have you ever looked at photos of yourself and noticed staining, dullness, yellowing or other discoloration of your teeth? Professional whitening of teeth can be performed by your dentist but can cost hundreds of dollars--and may not be covered by insurance; however, you can make teeth look whiter in pictures without breaking the bank.

Instructions

• 1

  Avoid wearing white in photographs. A pure white dress or shirt will accent any staining or discoloration of your teeth. Choose off-white or cream-colored clothing instead.

• 2

  Choose a dark color lipstick with a blue undertone such as red, rose, burgundy or plumb. Avoid selecting colors containing orange or yellow undertones because they make teeth appear dull, yellow and stained.

• 3

  Choose silver jewelry and clear or colored gems that do not contain yellow or orange. Gold jewelry, orange and golden gemstones accent staining and yellow teeth.

• 4

  Switch to a whitening toothpaste, use an electric toothbrush and whitening mouthwash. They will lighten teeth only a shade or two and will not effectively lighten severe yellowing or staining.

• 5

  Use an at-home whitening treatment. A variety of at-home treatments are available on the marketplace ranging from strips, trays and paint-on application. Depending on the treatment and severity of discoloration, you will be able to gradually lighten your teeth up to fve shades.

• 6

  Use Photoshop or other photo editing programs to lighten and brighten teeth (see Resources for a step-by-step tutorial).

• 7

  Schedule a whitening treatment with your dentist if you want to whiten your teeth quickly or are dealing with severe staining or discoloration. One office treatment can lighten teeth up to 10 shades and remove severe yellowing and staining and brighten dull teeth. Treatments can cost several hundred dollars depending on the dentist's recommendation.