From the tux and dress to the limo and stress, teens go big on prom night. The average family spends $1,139 to make the once-in-a-lifetime event unforgettable. The result is an evening full of smiles — and photos! Make sure your teen's smile is photo-ready on the big night by following the three quick tips below.

1. Prevent Stains With Coconut Oil

Does your teen love coffee, tea, or soda? These drinks all have one thing in common — they stain teeth. Fortunately, there's a technique called oil pulling that helps to prevent these beverages from staining teeth.

Oil pulling is fast, affordable, and easy to perform. All you have to do is head to the grocery store and buy a container of coconut oil. Have your teen swish a mouthful of the coconut oil for several minutes at a time, preferably right after consuming teeth-staining beverages.

In addition to removing stains, coconut oil is also antibacterial, so it helps your teen maintain optimal dental health — and fresh breath too.

2. Brush Away Stains With Baking Soda

Thanks to its mild abrasiveness, baking soda is perfect for brushing away stains without damaging teeth. Making a whitening paste out of baking soda is quick and easy. Simply add a few drops of water to a pinch of baking soda, and mix them together until a paste is formed. Have your teen brush away stains with the paste regularly, and watch as those pearly whites become a few shades whiter.

3. Brighten Teeth With In-Office Whitening

When it comes to brightening teeth, nothing compares to in-office teeth whitening. Dentists whiten teeth using powerful bleaching gels. These gels contain far higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide than store-bought whitening pastes and rinses.

In addition to being more effective, in-office whitening is also more accurate than do-it-yourself whiteners. Dentists make sure teeth are whitened evenly, which prevents accidents such as one or more teeth being a darker shade than the rest of the teeth.

A lot of pressure is placed on teenagers to have a perfect evening on prom night. This pressure often leads to stress and anxiousness. Help your teen relax and smile confidently by using the above tips. With bright, white teeth, your teen will be ready to smile big on the big night — even when the cameras come out. For additional information on teeth whitening, contact a dentist at a dental office such as Accent On Dentistry - Rowena R Martir DMD.