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Get advice from an expert on how to have a bright, healthy smile for a dazzling look on your wedding day.

Smile! White teeth are a bridal must. Photography: Luciana Pampalone

The best way to ensure a radiant smile? Good overall health, says Gerald Curatola, D.D.S., a New York-based dentist. Dr. Curatola says research shows a correlation between a healthy mouth and a healthy body. He recommends that in addition to following an at-home dental hygiene regime, you learn to practice good nutrition and stress management—beauty from the inside out.

Which Foods?

Curatola recommends following a diet that includes lots of leafy greens and whole grains. Eliminate refined sugar (that means no white bread or white sugar), which promotes gum disease. Be sure to eat foods that are high in antioxidants, like spinach and kale, berries and pomegranates, which help the body fight disease. You should also avoid foods that tend to have an inflammatory effect on body tissue, such as luncheon meats and hot dogs and even dairy products, if possible.

Tooth-Cleaning Tips

Since most people tend to spend less than two minutes at a time brushing their teeth, they don’t reach the harmful, sticky plaque that develops on the teeth and in hard-to-reach areas in the mouth. An electric toothbrush can help with this, Dr. Curatola says, but try one that comes equipped with a two-minute timer so that you do the best job possible. As for teeth whitening, Dr. Curatola cautions against overusing over-the-counter products in order to get fast results. Be sure to follow the instructions on the box carefully or opt to have your dentist do the procedure in his office.

Big-Day Countdown

• Immediately ditch the alcohol-based mouthwash and toothpaste. The alcohol dries out your mouth, killing the beneficial bacteria.
• Start a healthy diet. Dr. Curatola believes this to be the basic groundwork for a gorgeous smile.
• Six months out: See your dentist for a checkup so that any problems with teeth or gums can be treated well in advance. This is also the time to discuss options like whitening or even more complicated procedures, like bonding or veneers.
• Three months out: See your dentist for another cleaning.
• One month out: If you plan to have an in-office whitening, schedule an appointment now.

For Healthy White Teeth

Eat: crunchy fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots, cauliflower, pears and cucumbers.
Almonds are a good choice too. “Hit the crudités at parties,” Dr. Curatola advises. These foods are high in fiber, so they act like tiny toothbrushes scrubbing away at your teeth as you eat. You’ll be snacking in a healthy way and whitening your teeth at the same time.

Avoid: dark liquids like coffee or red wine and deeply pigmented curry dishes.
Also, stay away from carbonated drinks (the carbonation can increase acidity in your mouth, making tooth enamel more porous and prone to staining).