Taking Care Of Dental Veneers To Make Them Last Longer

Patients go to the dentist for a regular dental checkup to address issues like cavities. The experience can be scary for anyone who will go through the treatment for the first time. This guide will set your expectations on what happens during a dental cleaning procedure and help you reduce your anxiety.

Getting dental veneers to improve your smile is a great decision that you won’t regret afterwards. These tooth shells act as a smile makeover and protection to maintain healthy teeth. However, over time you might notice them getting stained or worn out. 

Are dental veneers durable?

Fragile teeth can break down anytime and cause you discomfort. Hence, composite resin or porcelain veneers protect your teeth that may be:

• Chipped
• Misaligned
• Gapped
• Stained

Veneers can endure intense chewing and biting pressure and don’t crack easily, unlike dental bonding. They also appear better than dentures because of their gleaming natural look. 

Care instructions you can do at home

Even if they last long, your front teeth veneers can lose their natural lustre over time when you don’t observe proper care. To avoid this, you need to follow the tips below to maintain them well.

Brush and floss

Treat your dental veneers like how you would treat your natural teeth. Brush and floss them daily to prevent gum disease that can expose the borders of your dental laminates. Eventually, poor hygiene gives away the imperfect teeth inside.

Switch to a less abrasive toothpaste

Toothpaste with harsh ingredients can damage your dental veneers. Hydrogen peroxide will eat away at the surface, while baking soda has a gritty texture that can reduce the sheen. Using gel products is a good alternative.

Use a gentle toothbrush 

Like how you would switch to a toothpaste with mild ingredients, switch to a gentle toothbrush. A toothbrush with soft bristles cleans your teeth thoroughly, even without causing abrasion.

Limit consumption of food high in sugar and acid

Sugar makes bacteria thrive on your teeth, thus exposing your veneers to tooth decay. At the same time, acid weakens them. Avoid chewing on acidic foods like citrus fruits for too long.

Cut down your liquor intake.

Drinking too many glasses or shots of alcohol can soften the bonding that keeps your veneers intact. Alcohol doesn’t directly loosen your veneer bonding, but it can leave you with stained teeth exposed to damage.

Avoid teeth grinding at night

Grinding your teeth at night can potentially damage not only your veneers but also your natural teeth. Consult your dentist to seek recommendations for wearing oral appliances like a mouthguard.

Quit smoking

You are more prone to tooth discoloration if you smoke. Tobacco has nicotine and tar that can leave yellow or brown stains on the teeth. 

Never bite on hard surfaces

Sometimes you use your teeth to open bottle caps and the like. Your veneers are durable, but the metal caps and glass bottles can chip them. Moreover, avoid mannerisms that involve biting pens or pencils or even chewing ice.

Always maintain your beautiful smile after cosmetic teeth surgery and seek professional assistance. Ask your Burlington dentist for more ways to take care of your dental veneers at home for your dental health.