Dental veneers help patients fall in love with their smile once again. Knowing the proper care they require can help you get the longest life out of your veneers. Many of our patients have the same veneers for as long as 10 years. Keep reading for the top five ways to preserve your smile for the long-term.
Don’t Use Your Teeth as Tools
Stop using your teeth to bite anything but food. In other words, don’t bite your nails, open jars, or nervously bite on your pencils. Porcelain veneers are like thin sheets of glass. While they are sturdy, they aren’t sturdy enough for non-food objects.
Wear a Mouth Guard if you Grind Your Teeth
Bad habits can start at any time in your life. If you start grinding your teeth after getting veneers, come see us. Just like biting on your nails or pencils can chip the veneers, grinding your teeth can cause the same damage. A mouth guard worn at night can protect the veneers as well as your natural tooth enamel.
Exercise Proper Oral Hygiene
Brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing at least once is even more important when you have dental veneers. Brushing and flossing help prevent tooth decay, but even more important, it helps prevent gum disease. Gum disease can cause gum recession, which could cause exposure of the top of the veneers.
Avoid staining food and drink
Certain food and drink, such as tea, soda, coffee, berries, and red wine stain enamel and veneers. Unlike enamel, though, you can’t whiten veneers. Dark, unsightly stains can cause embarrassment or make it obvious that you have veneers. If you do consume any of the offending food or drink, rinse your mouth with water right away.
Keep your regular dental appointments
Come see us at least once every six months for optimal oral health. At your exams, our staff will assess the health of your enamel as well as the veneers. We can spot any issues early on, avoiding any major issues, such as chipped or stained veneers down the road. Our professional cleaning can also help keep your veneers looking bright and shiny.
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