Porcelain veneers can make your teeth look clean and healthy. However, you still need to know how to care for them properly. You can keep them in pristine condition if you do. It’s worth learning because getting them can be costly in the first place.
So, if you want tips to keep your porcelain veneers in great shape, keep reading. Everything you’ll need to know is here.
1. Brush Your Teeth Daily
First, you must work on your dental hygiene habits. You’ll want to brush your teeth twice daily, once in the morning and again before you sleep at night. You must use a soft-bristled toothbrush so you don’t scratch the veneers.
It’s also essential that you don’t use toothpaste with any gritty materials in it. If the toothpaste is too abrasive, it could scratch the porcelain veneers. You’ll need to avoid toothpaste with whitening agents and baking soda, as well, because they can also cause damage.
That means the best toothpaste to use is non-abrasive. You’ll also want it to contain fluoride to keep your natural teeth strong.
You’ll also want to ensure you floss every day with veneers. It’s easy for food to become trapped when you’re wearing them. If that happens, it could lead to some issues later.
So, simply brush and floss your teeth each day. You’ll keep your veneers clean, and your teeth will be in great shape.
In short, the most important thing you can do is take care of your veneers by brushing them every single day.
2. Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Next, it’s essential to make all of your dentist appointments. Your dentist will check on your veneers and clean them for you. They’ll let you know if you’re doing anything wrong so you can make changes to keep the veneers in tip-top shape for longer.
If there are any problems with the veneers, the dentist will fix them immediately for you. Specific issues can cause a lot of damage to the veneers and even your natural teeth quickly, making it necessary not to wait.
If you have any questions about your veneers, call your dentist. They can respond promptly and let you know what to do.
3. Limit Staining Drinks
It’s also good to review what you drink. While porcelain veneers are stain-resistant, they’re not fully stain-proof. That means they can become stained over time, especially if you have dark beverages daily.
Coffee, tea, and red wines can all stain your teeth and porcelain veneers. You can reduce the effect that these drinks have by rinsing your mouth with fresh water afterward. If you drink dark sodas, you can reduce how much they stain by using a straw. Most of the liquid should pass your teeth, so it doesn’t get a chance to leave a mark.
So, limit drinking anything that could stain the veneers. You’ll keep them white and clean-looking for much longer that way.
4. Know What You Can and Can’t Eat
There are some foods that you’ll want to stop eating once you have veneers on. Even though porcelain is durable, it can still take damage over time from hard and sticky food. You wouldn’t want to break them.
Hard foods like nuts and candies can crack the veneers when you bite. You can have hard fruits and veggies, but you’ll want to peel them first to make them safer. Sticky foods are dangerous because they can pull the veneers out, so it’s best to avoid them altogether. These include caramel, toffee, and taffy.
5. Give Up Smoking
Smoking can also stain your porcelain veneers with time. So, you’ll want to start working on quitting. Quitting will help improve the health of your teeth and body, making it significant.
Smoking usually stains the composite that holds the veneer to your teeth, not so much the veneer itself. So, you’ll end up with white veneers but brown around the border. Many people hate how this looks, so you’ll want to avoid smoking.
6. Drink More Water
You’ll want to work on drinking more water, too. When you’re well-hydrated, your body produces more saliva. A dry mouth can lead to more staining, so increase your water intake.
Drinking water after eating anything that could stain, like berries, can help reduce the odds that your veneers become discolored.
You’ll feel healthier when you drink more water, making it worth building this habit.
7. Fix Your Bite Alignment
Having a misalignment with your bite can put pressure on your veneers. If that happens, it could cause the veneers to crack.
You’ll want to talk about your bite with your dentist. If they discover any problems with how your teeth align, they’ll talk to you about braces and other options to correct them.
8. Learn To Manage Stress in Healthy Ways
You’ll want to take the time to deal with your stress healthily. Grinding your teeth due to stress, also called bruxism, can cause severe damage to porcelain veneers.
This condition is connected to anxiety and stress. So, learning to deal with these negative feelings well will help you. You can try Yoga, deep breathing exercises, and journaling to relieve stress.
Cutting back on smoking, alcohol, and caffeine can also reduce how much you grind your teeth at night. If you think you grind your teeth while you sleep, you’ll want to reach out to your dentist for a solution.
9. Stay Informed on Porcelain Veneers
One of the best things you can do to keep your veneers in good condition is to educate yourself. When you’re more informed about maintaining your veneers, you’ll take better care of them.
You’ve already taken the first step by reading this post! Why not check out some more while you’re here?
Take Care of Your Porcelain Veneers
The better you care for your veneers, the longer they’ll last. You’ll want to brush your teeth twice daily to keep the porcelain white and clean. If you follow the above tips, you’ll keep your veneers in great shape.
Written by:
Wohlers Family Dentistry
3733 Canton Rd, Marietta, GA 30066
+17709269914
Published on February 13, 2024 and Last Updated on February 13, 2024 by: Priyank Pandey