Are you the proud recipient of a new set of porcelain veneers? If so, you are probably enjoying your new smile. But if you want to keep your smile looking great, you’ll need to know how to properly care for your veneers.
What do veneers require in terms of care and maintenance? Here’s a guide to help you keep your porcelain veneers in excellent condition.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
If you’re not already practicing good oral hygiene, you should definitely start now. Although veneers are made of porcelain, your natural teeth are still underneath and are still susceptible to plaque and decay. You are also still at risk for gum disease with veneers. Be sure to do the following:
- Brush your teeth twice a day. Dentists recommend brushing your teeth twice a day whether you have veneers or not. But it is just as important to do so with porcelain veneers. Food residue and plaque can build up on your veneers as well as your natural teeth, and since you now have both, it is important to brush at least twice a day.
- Floss your teeth once a day. Dentists also recommend flossing once a day, which is the same if you have veneers or don’t. But flossing is even more important with veneers because food particles and plaque can build up between your teeth and veneers. Veneers may even increase or decrease the amount of space between your teeth, making flossing necessary.
- Go to the dentist twice a year. It is also best to have your teeth cleaned at the dentist’s office every 6 months, even with veneers. No matter how well you brush, some plaque will still build up on your teeth that can only be removed with dental tools. You also need X-Rays once a year to check for cavities and issues that may exist below the gums.
Avoid Habits that Could Damage Your Veneers
When it comes to caring for your porcelain veneers, what you don’t do is just as important as what you do. Here are some habits to avoid in order to keep your veneers in good condition:
- Avoid chewing anything other than food. If you tend to chew on pens, pencils, straws, and anything else absentmindedly, try to avoid this habit. Chewing hard items could damage your veneers.
- Do not use your teeth to open things. It can be tempting to use your teeth to tear open bags or loosen the lid or a seal on an item, but this is very risky to your veneers as well as your natural teeth. Both natural teeth and veneers can chip, crack, or break when using them to open things.
- Keep sugar to a minimum. As with your natural teeth, sugar can be damaging to your veneers. It is always best to avoid constantly munching or sipping on sugary foods and beverages. Eat or drink them in one sitting and allow your teeth time to recover in between.
Protect Your Veneers
There are some easy ways to protect your veneers from damage, such as:
- Wear a mouthguard if you grind your teeth. If you grind your teeth at night, it would be best to wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and veneers. Worn down teeth due to grinding is a common reason people get veneers in the first place. Grinding your teeth will also wear down your veneers over time.
- Wear a sports mouthguard if you play sports. Whether or not the sport you play is high contact or low contact, wearing a mouthguard while you play will protect your veneers. Even if all you are doing is running or working out independently, you could still fall and damage your veneers.
Kingwest Dental Studio Provides Care Tips for Porcelain Veneers
When you get porcelain veneers from Kingwest Dental Studio, we give you all of the information you need to care for them. Veneers can last at least 10 years if you take care of them according to your dentist’s instructions.
Call 416-910-1100 or contact us today to schedule a consultation. We look forward to helping you improve your smile and keep it looking great.