How Do I Take Care of Dental Veneers?
A veneer is a wafer-thin porcelain shell that we’re able to bond to the front of your tooth. This improves the appearance of your tooth by covering any small chips, cracks, or other minor imperfections. Your dental veneers will blend in with the rest of your teeth so you can smile with confidence.
In general, your veneers may last as long as you practice good oral hygiene.
Here’s what you need to know about caring for your dental veneers.
Brush and Floss Your Teeth Every Day
Dental plaque is an invisible film of bacteria that sticks to your teeth and gums. When you eat food, it consumes any sugar left behind and produces an acid. This acid erodes your enamel and attacks your gums, which can lead to oral health issues in the long run.
The good news is that brushing and flossing your teeth every day will help reduce the amount of plaque in your mouth. It’ll also help prevent plaque from hardening into tartar. While you can , only a dental professional will be able to remove tartar buildup.
Be sure to brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes at a time. This means that you should be brushing before you go to bed. Otherwise, your teeth will be bathed in sugar all night.
It’s also important that you floss your teeth at least once a day to remove any plaque or food particles that could be hiding between teeth.
Use a Fluoride Mouth Rinse
Using a fluoride mouth rinse will help strengthen your tooth enamel. This will help increase your resistance against acid attacks from plaque. While your veneers are made out of porcelain, it’s important to remember that they’re bonded to your natural teeth. As such, you’ll want to prevent cavities from forming behind the veneers.
See Your Dentist for Preventive Care
Continue seeing one of our dentists for preventive care. During your appointment, we’ll examine your teeth and gums. We may also take dental X-rays if it’s been a while since your last ones. This will allow us to detect any issues with your teeth or veneers before they have the chance to worsen.
Avoid Staining Foods and Drinks
Dental veneers are resistant to staining. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to stain your veneers. As such, we recommend that you limit staining foods and drinks in your diet. Otherwise, your veneers may look a bit discolored over time.
Don’t Chew Ice or Use Your Teeth as a Tool
We understand the temptation to chew the ice cubes left floating in your drink. But chewing ice is a bad habit that may chip your dental veneers if you’re not careful. Likewise, it’s important that you don’t use your teeth as a tool. For example, you may damage your veneers if you use your teeth to open a bottle or rip open a letter.
Learn if You’re a Candidate for Dental Veneers
Aren’t sure if you’re a candidate for porcelain veneers? Watch our patient testimonial to learn how veneers can help you smile with confidence. For this patient, we were able to complete the veneers procedure in one appointment!
Request an Appointment With Us
Our cosmetic dentists in Grand Rapids, MI, are accepting new patients. To request an appointment, please call Advance Dental at (616) 956-9183. You may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our office will reach out to you soon.
