Getting a dental veneer can completely transform your smile! However, if you do decide to invest in these wafer-thin materials, you’ll want to ensure their longevity. Porcelain veneers are engineered to resist virtually anything that your natural teeth can. If you take good care of your veneers, you can enjoy their benefits for up to 15 years!
So how can you ensure that your veneers continue to enhance your smile in the long run? These pointers will teach you everything you need to know about maintaining and caring for this dental restoration.
Maintain Good Oral Health
For whatever reason you opted to have a veneer, keep in mind that it is not a panacea for your mouth. You still need to keep your teeth clean to get the most out of your veneer.
Dental veneers conceal tiny faults and imperfections, providing you with the smile transformation you deserve. If your natural teeth are discolored, cracked, or chipped as a result of inadequate dental care, you will need to modify your behaviors. Otherwise, your veneer will not be as long-lasting as it may be.
Taking care of your oral health entails taking steps to maintain a healthy mouth. Consult your dentist on a regular basis and clean your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste. At least twice a day, you should floss to prevent gum disease.
Inquire Prior to Attempting Whitening Products
Before using whitening toothpaste, consult your dentist to ensure that it will not damage the surface of the veneers.Typically, these products contain hydrogen peroxide, sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda.
Your custom-made shells were chosen to complement your natural tones. Teeth whitening may have an effect on your new smile.
Keep An Eye On What You Eat And Drink
Veneers made of porcelain and composite resin are quite durable and stain resistant. This is not to say, however, that they are impervious. A veneer can be stained.
To keep the veneers looking their best, be mindful of what you eat and drink. Many foods and drinks have staining agents that make your natural teeth look bad.
Staining and Difficult Foods Are Not Acceptable
Whether the stain is on the veneer or the adjacent teeth, stains can detract from your brilliant smile. Avoid foods and drinks that can stain, like soy sauce, dark sodas, and red wine, because these can change the color of your veneer.
Extremely hard items can potentially fracture your teeth and veneers. Consume raw apples, raw carrots, and other hard objects with caution. Avoid chewing on ice with your natural teeth as well. Veneers are delicate shells that can fracture, just as your enamel can.
Eliminate Bad Habits
Your grin’s appearance is influenced by what you eat and drink, as well as your behaviors. Smoking will quickly deteriorate your dental veneers. You are already aware that you should discontinue smoking. Obtaining composite resin or porcelain veneers accelerates this process.
While a veneer can totally improve your smile, smoking will discolor the surface, just like it does with natural teeth. If you want to retain your beautiful smile, you must take adequate care of it by avoiding bad habits.
Additionally, excessive alcohol consumption might result in tooth damage and surface discoloration. Discuss your concerns with your dentist. They might have some straightforward advice or solutions that have worked for others that you hadn’t considered.
Utilize a Mouth Guard If Necessary
A bonding agent is used to secure dental veneers in place. Grinding your teeth or being struck in the mouth might cause the bonding line to shift and the veneer to fall out of place. It can be reset if there is no more damage, but it would be better to not have it happen at all.
As a result, certain individuals should wear mouth guards in conjunction with their veneers. If you play a lot of contact sports or have bruxism (grinding), talk to your dentist about these aspects of your life.
They’ll be able to teach you how to properly care for veneers, address the reasons and effects of tooth grinding, and suggest treatments. A bite guard, or occlusal guard, safeguards your natural teeth, dental implants, and porcelain veneers.
You may be unaware, but the bite force generated by subconscious grinding can do significant damage. Wear a mouthguard to prevent erosion and damage to your good teeth. As a bonus, if you play a contact sport, a sports guard protects your teeth in the event of an accident with your jaw or face.
Maintaining Regular Dental Cleanings and Exams
Finally, if you maintain frequent dental cleanings and examinations, your dental veneers will last far longer. The dental hygienist will use instruments to scrape germs, tartar, and plaque buildup from areas that you may be unable to reach. While using the right toothpaste and brush is good, it isn’t the same as getting your teeth cleaned by someone who has been trained, knows how to use special tools, and has the right tools.
Dental checkups help prevent problems such as gum disease or decaying teeth from progressing to more serious problems. The sooner you can resolve any oral hygiene issues, the healthier your natural teeth will be. This increases the likelihood of your porcelain veneers lasting a long time.
Assisting You in Maintaining the Health of Your Veneers and Teeth
How you care for your teeth at home has a significant impact on the longevity of your veneers. Brushing twice a day or more is a good start, as is using the proper toothpaste and toothbrush. An antiseptic mouthwash can help you get rid of any bacteria that you might have missed. Flossing helps keep your gum line healthy.
Bear in mind that the healthier your mouth is, the healthier your veneers will be. Regular dental visits are a necessary component of good oral health care. Your dentist will check for cavities, early signs of gingivitis or progressive periodontitis, and veneer-related concerns.
Take responsibility for your dental health at home and choose a dentist you can trust to manage it. Together, you’ll be on your way to durable veneers!
