Whether you’ve been wearing porcelain veneers for a while or just made the investment, there are a few things you can do to ensure they look great and last longer.
Keep Them Healthy
Just like natural teeth and gums, your veneers will collect harmful plaque and tartar. Contrary to popular belief, they are not safe against cavities. Plaque acids can break down the bond between your tooth and the cemented veneer facing. Daily brushing with a non-abrasive toothpaste is recommended. Fluoride in the form of a rinse or paste will also help protect the edges of any dental work. Since most of the aggressive bacteria live under the gumline and in between your teeth, daily flossing is also an essential part of prevention. Remember that brushing alone only reaches about half of the germs in your mouth! Of course we wouldn’t be giving great advice if we left out the importance of regular visits with our hygienists. They are licensed prevention specialists and experts in cleaning in those hard to reach areas.
Keep Them Protected
No matter how strong the porcelain is, a few risky behaviors can leave you with broken veneers. Chewing on ice, biting your fingernails, smoking and eating hard candies are just a few examples of bad habits that could shorten the life of your dental work. Also, if you grind your teeth at any time during the day or night, or if your bite is not properly adjusted, the veneers won’t last as long as they would in a more ideal environment. Play it safe. Get routine dental exams. Wear a night guard if recommended.
Keep Them Beautiful
We all want to have a gorgeous smile and this desire is a driving force behind many of our patients’ requests to have veneers in the first place. Since the porcelain is carefully matched to the shade of your surrounding teeth, you don’t want any staining to ruin the look that we have created for you. As you go about your days, consider your food and drink in regards to its tooth staining power. Red wine, blueberries and coffee will eventually soak in around the edges of your veneers and give them a dull finish. Rinsing with water frequently and keeping your teeth free of plaque that stains will help immensely but many of you will also benefit from custom whitening trays in order to brighten up your natural teeth from time to time.