Dental veneers are a reliable modern solution for a variety of cosmetic issues. With a procedure of dental veneers, you can dramatically boost the appearance of your smile in just a couple of dental visits. Naturally, when you get your new beautiful veneers, you would like to preserve their original appearance for as long as possible. In this article, we discuss how to care for your veneers.

How to Care for Your Veneers

Dental veneers are typically made of porcelain or resin composite. Porcelain veneers are usually considered to be more resilient than those made of resin composite. However, both types of dental veneers require special care. Below, we talk about the main rules of veneer care.

Mind Your Dietary Habits

There are two main reasons to adhere to some dietary restrictions when wearing dental veneers: to prevent staining and breaking or cracking your veneers.

Avoid staining foods and beverages, such as berries, fruit juices, beetroot, carrots, brightly colored species, black coffee and tea, red wine, etc. If you consume such foods and drinks, brush your teeth or rinse your mouth right away after the meal to prevent staining particles from lingering on your veneers.
Abstain from hard and sticky foods, such as crunchy candy, popcorn, and bread with seeds, crackers, toffee, etc. Such foods can crack or pull your veneers.

Stay on Top of Your Oral Hygiene

Thorough oral hygiene with dental veneers is essential for two main reasons:

It helps remove food and drink residue from the surface of your veneers, thus preventing their staining and discoloration.
It ensures the health of the teeth underneath veneers and gum health, thus reducing the risk of needing to remove veneers to treat your teeth and gums.

An effective oral hygiene consists of several steps:

Brush your teeth twice a day for two full minutes with a fluoride toothpaste.
Floss your teeth every evening.
Use a water flosser twice a day before brushing and flossing your teeth.
Rinse your mouth or use a water flosser after meals.

Choose the Right Products for Cleaning Your Veneers

Brush your teeth with non-abrasive toothpaste and a soft or medium-soft toothbrush. Abrasive particles such as baking soda, charcoal, etc., and hard toothbrushes can create minor scratches on the surface of your veneers. Food particles and plaque can accumulate in the scratches, making your veneers appear stained.

Also, avoid whitening toothpaste and other over-the-counter whitening solutions. Such products are not designed for use on dental veneers and can damage the materials they are made of.

Avoid Breaking Your Veneers

We mentioned before that porcelain veneers are durable and resilient. Resin composite veneers can also withstand a certain amount of chewing pressure. However, this does not mean that both of these types of veneers are invincible. Much like your natural teeth, veneers can be broken or cracked if too much force is applied to them. Thus, to keep your veneers intact, we recommend adhering to the following rules:

Never use your teeth as tools, for example, for cracking nuts, opening bottles, etc.
If you play sports (especially contact sports) or engage in other activities that pose the risk of falling, wear a mouth guard. This dental appliance is an effective method of protecting your veneers, teeth, and gums from various types of physical damage, as it absorbs and dampens the force from physical impacts.
If you have bruxism—inventory clenching of your jaw or grinding your teeth—consult your doctor regarding this issue. Bruxism can lead to teeth and veneers wearing down or cracking. Several options that might help with the issue are available, including mouthguards, counseling, therapy, etc.

Visit Your Dentist Regularly

It is recommended to visit your dental office for checkups and professional cleanings twice a year. During these visits, your doctor will ensure the integrity of your veneers and the health of the gums and teeth beneath the veneers. This way, your dentist will be able to notice any potential oral health issues and prevent or treat them in a timely manner.

Also, during a professional dental cleaning, your hygienist will remove plaque and tartar that accumulate on your teeth and veneers over time, thus preventing cavities, gum disease, and discoloration of your veneers. In fact, a dental cleaning might be sufficient to brighten up your veneers and restore their original color.

Make an Appointment at Chino Aesthetic

If you require dental veneer maintenance services or want to receive a new set of high-quality veneers, make an appointment with an experienced cosmetic dentist today. We look forward to your visit to the Chino Aesthetic Dental office.