6 Tips for Maintaining Porcelain Veneers

Do you have porcelain veneers? Although veneers are not as high maintenance as people think, they do require a bit of tender loving care. That’s right, how long your porcelain veneers will last depends on how well you maintain them. Follow these tips to extend the lifespan of your porcelain veneers.

Practice Proper Hygiene 

The most popular and least far-fetched way to maintain your veneers is to practice proper hygiene. According to the American Dental Association, you should brush your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. Apart from brushing, floss once a day to remove dental plaque hiding along the gum line and between the teeth. If you already do this, you are on the right track. However, here are a few things most people don’t know. 

1) Choose the right toothpaste 

Your dentist will recommend the right toothpaste to use for your veneer. In case they don’t, avoid whitening pastes and any toothpaste that is too abrasive for natural teeth. Pastes with ingredients like hydrogen peroxide and sodium bicarbonate can erode your veneers and cause them to lose their sheen and color. 

Avoid hard bristles

Choose a soft toothbrush over medium and hard brushes, as they can scratch your veneer or lead to enamel erosion or gum recession. 

Manage your mouth and what you eat 

Veneers are strong and work the same way as natural teeth. However, there are a few precautions you must take, especially when it comes to what you eat. For example, you must alter your diet accordingly and avoid hard foods that can chip off your veneer and foods high in sugar that increase the risk of tooth decay. Needless to say, you must eat a well-balanced diet. Other precautions you must follow include: 

Do not eat anything hard

Avoid foods like nuts, candies, pretzels, etc. That can cause your veneer to chip or crack. 

Do not smoke or chew tobacco

Smoking or chewing tobacco will cause your veneer to become discolored. Apart from its effect on the teeth, it can affect your overall health and is the reason we advise you to quit it. If you don’t want your white porcelain veneer to become stained, avoid tobacco. 

Avoid food that stains the teeth

Although porcelain won’t absorb stains, acidic foods and beverages can discolor your natural teeth and make their shade different from that of the veneers. Avoid deep curries, dark sauces, red wine, coffee, and other drinks that can stain your veneers. If you must, use a straw and brush your teeth immediately afterward to reduce discoloration. 

Avoid excess alcohol

Excessive alcohol consumption will soften the bonding that holds the veneer to your teeth. Although your veneers won’t necessarily come loose, it exposes the bonding line to stains, deterioration, and damage. Since alcohol is not just present in beverages, check your toothpaste, mouthwash, and other ingredients to ensure they are alcohol-free. 

Do not chew sweets

Sweets leave dental plaque on your teeth since they love to eat sugar. 

2) Avoid bad habits 

Habits like eating ice cubes or your pen can chip or damage your veneer. Some of the bad habits to avoid include: 

Do not use your teeth to open bottle caps

People sometimes resort to using their veneer to open bottle caps. However, habits like this can damage your dental layer and the veneer. This does not just apply to bottle caps, but you can extend the same to nails, pens, caps, etc. 

Do not grind your teeth

Teeth grinding causes jaw aches and headaches, and will most certainly wear down your veneer. If you do this often or suffer from bruxism – teeth clenching or grinding, speak to your dentist about it. We sometimes recommend mouth guards to cover the teeth and reduce the amount of muscular force on them. 

3) Wear a Mouthguard 

If you engage in combat sports like mixed martial arts, wrestling, boxing, and taekwondo, protect your veneers with a mouth guard. The guard will minimize the impact of a strong force and prevent accidents from a ball or an elbow to the mouth or a collision with another player. 

4) Choose a reputable dentist 

Your dental veneer is an investment and should be treated as such. To ensure lasting use, choose a reputable provider. Ask for referrals and credentials, and look at pictures or testimonials before proceeding with the treatment. At Sbenati Dentistry, we provide dental veneers that will upscale your smile into one that fits your personality. 

5) Visit your dentists regularly 

Routine dental appointments will help you maintain your veneers. Besides following your dentist’s recommendation for cleanings, you must schedule routine visits so they can access them and check if they are still in good condition. We recommend you have oral examinations and professional teeth cleaning with our dental clinic every 6 months. During teeth cleaning appointments, our hygienists will gently scrape away tartar and plaque. 

If you have any questions, request an appointment with the Sbenati Dentistry clinic or call (519) 474-0220.