How To Care For Your Veneers

Porcelain veneers are one of the best ways to get white, straight teeth. However, they do require some maintenance. What are some things you can you do to keep your smile sparkling, beyond regular brushing and flossing?

Protect Them

In order to prevent chipping and cracking of your veneers, avoid biting down on hard things or chewing fingernails or pens. These habits will eventually damage your veneers.

Wear a Mouthguard

You don’t have to give up playing your favorite sports once you get veneers. You do, however, need to protect your veneers while playing by inserting a mouthguard. Doing so will protect your front teeth especially from any breaking or cracking.

Watch Out For Grinding

If you experience jaw pain and stiffness, frequent headaches, or earaches you may be a grinder. While grinding is damaging to your health for many reasons, it can also damage your veneers. If you believe you might have an issue with grinding, see your dentist right away. He can have a night mouthguard created for you to protect your teeth.

Avoid Stains

Porcelain Veneers are crafted to be resistant to stains. However, they can become discolored after extended exposure to red wine, coffee, tobacco, or tea. You might want to cut down on your consumption of these things or at the very least brush your teeth directly after use.

Avoid Abrasive Toothpaste

Since your veneers are doing the work of whitening your teeth and are stain resistant, you don’t need to use whitening toothpaste. In fact, the harsh bleach and baking soda found in most whitening toothpastes can wear down your veneers over time. You may also want to use a soft toothbrush to avoid wearing down your veneers.

Keep Regular Appointments With Your Dentist

Veneers require cleaning and polishing every three months. Your cosmetic dentist is the best man for these jobs, as he has the experience and specialized equipment in office needed to clean veneers.

Unlike dental implants, veneers don’t last forever. However, if you follow these tips the life of your veneers will be extended. If you’re considering getting veneers, don’t wait- call a cosmetic dentist near you!