Dental veneers are thin, tooth-coloured shells made from porcelain or composite type material and are used to cover any dental flaws or imperfections you may have. Dental veneers provide a long-lasting fix for teeth that are chipped, stained or misaligned, laminating your teeth, and ensuring a natural looking smile.
If you’ve worn braces before, you’re probably aware of the challenges associated with caring for a combination of your gums and teeth, all the while dealing with wires and brackets. Fortunately, caring for veneers is nowhere near as challenging.
After initially spending your hard-earned money fixing your teeth, you would be amiss not to prioritise caring for veneers to increase their lifespan.
Dental veneers typically last about 10-15 years. However, by following just a few simple yet effective steps, you can prolong the lifespan even further. Here’s how:
7 Tips for Caring for Veneers
Sustain Good Oral Hygiene
Positive oral hygiene habits don’t just help keep your teeth healthy, but also in maintaining the quality and longevity of your veneers. Like natural teeth, veneers are susceptible to plaque and bacterial build-up, leading to gum diseases and decay.
Insufficient dental care can lead to receding gums, meaning that the junction between your veneer and teeth will become increasingly visible. If it worsens, you may have to replace the veneer entirely.
Caring for veneers is not hard at all if you maintain good oral hygiene. Remember to brush twice a day, floss at least once a day to remove particles caught between teeth, and rinse with an alcohol-free mouthwash to not damage the bonding agent between veneer and teeth.
Reduce Alcohol Consumption
By following this tip, you can kill two birds with one stone! Not only will you boost your overall health, but you can ensure the longevity of your veneers. Post veneer care is crucial to ensure you get your money’s worth. Regular alcohol consumption can cause the bonding cement under your veneers to weaken, increasing susceptibility to corrosion, staining and damage.
Avoid Teeth Grinding and Clenching
Teeth grinding and clenching at night can cause damage to the porcelain, wearing down your veneers over time. Excessive pressure from grinding may also cause chipping to the veneers. To engage in porcelain veneers after care, it is recommended to wear a mouthguard when sleeping as a preventative measure. This tip is also relevant when considering how to look after composite veneers.
Avoid Chewing Hard Foods
Veneers are durable. However, they still run the risk of chipping and breaking. Normal foods are not a problem; however, hard foods have the potential to cause damage. When considering caring for veneers, chop foods like nuts and carrots into small pieces before eating them.
You should also avoid chewing hard objects like nails, ice, or pencils; otherwise, you may risk having to replace your veneers.
Frequent Dental Check-Ups
Regular dental check-ups are a necessity for people who want healthy teeth. It is recommended to visit your dentist at least once every six months to ensure that problems are spotted quickly and prevented before becoming major issues.
Dentists can remove instances of plaque that your toothbrush may not be able to remove itself and use professional equipment not only to polish your veneers and preserve whiteness but limit wear over time.
If you’re serious about caring for veneers, make sure you visit your dentist for a check-up and clean at least twice a year.
Minimise Staining Foods and Smoking
Although porcelain veneers are stain-resistant, certain food and drink can dull the whiteness of the veneer. Examples of staining food and beverages include coffee, tea, dark sodas and soy sauce. This doesn’t mean stop consuming them altogether but instead limit consumption when possible.
Cigarette smoke is sure to stain your veneers. Not only will quitting be beneficial for post veneer care, but it will also improve your overall health.
Use a Soft Toothbrush and Fluoride Toothpaste
When thinking about ways to maximise porcelain veneers after care, it is vital to make sure you’re using a soft toothbrush. Hard-bristled toothbrushes can rub away the polish on your veneers. Also, try to locate kinds of toothpaste with strong abrasives as they can also wear away at your veneers.
It is recommended to use either fluoride toothpaste or special whitening toothpaste as these will prevent the build-up of stains and plaque and ensure success in caring for veneers.
Caring for Composite Veneers vs. Porcelain Veneers
Have you been stressing about how to look after composite veneers? Maybe you’re wondering if porcelain veneers were the better choice?
In a nutshell, composite veneers are quicker and cheaper to apply. However, they last about half as long, are not as durable and are more prone to damage.
In contrast, you can repair composite veneers in the event of damage, but not porcelain. Porcelain veneers are more expensive and seem more authentic; however, they are non-reversible and cannot be removed as composite veneers can.
What to Do If My Veneers Are Damaged?
If you reside in Townsville and need a dental check-up or are suffering from damaged veneers, get in touch with Casey Dental. As Townsville’s leading dentistry, we offer a range of cosmetic dentistry services to enhance overall oral health and get you smiling!
Get in contact with us by calling 07 4801 7035 and book your appointment today.