There is no better way to quickly and drastically improve your appearance than to correct esthetic dentistry problems with porcelain veneers.
While orthodontic braces can treat crowding, gaps, and other alignment issues, you’ll have to wear them for up to two years and deal with the hassle and confidence issue every day. Veneers offer a much faster solution, giving you the perfect, radiant smile you desire in a very short time and increasing your confidence in the process.
Of course, if you want your coatings to last, you have to take good care of them. Just as you need to clean and care for your natural teeth to keep them shiny and beautiful, you should also take steps to ensure your porcelain veneers continue to improve your smile over the years. Otherwise, you can start to see plaque and tartar formation, staining and other unpleasant deterioration.
With proper care, your veneers can last 10 years or more and continue to look as good as the day you got them. Here are a few tips to help you clean and maintain your coatings to enjoy the longest life.
Provide Proper Oral Hygiene
If you’re already brushing, flossing, and mouthwash after every meal or at least twice a day, you’re on the right track to keeping your dentures clean and well-groomed. However, you may need some advice from your dentist to make sure you treat your porcelain veneers with proper care.
The biggest challenge many people face is learning how to brush veneers and floss. If you tend to be a little aggressive when it comes to cleaning your teeth, you can damage veneers by causing cracks. Once veneers are applied, your dentist can provide you with training on how to properly brush and floss around your new dental hardware.
Change Your Toothpaste
In addition to changing your techniques when it comes to dental hygiene, you may want to consider changing your toothpaste after the veneer has been applied. This is because porcelain can be damaged by abrasive agents, including grit toothpastes used to polish surface stains on teeth.
When your dentist chooses veneers, he carefully matches them to the surrounding teeth so they blend seamlessly with your smile (which is why many patients are whitened before veneers). A whitening toothpaste can help prevent your natural teeth from staining and looking different from your veneers over time. It can also help prevent surface staining on coatings.
Avoid Potentially Harmful Food
Any kind of food can damage your veneers and natural teeth. For example, chewing ice or hard candies can damage both equally, causing unpleasant cracks.
On the other hand, foods known to stain natural teeth, such as coffee, tea, wine, blueberries, and food dyes, for example, should not adversely affect your veneers. The only problem is that they can stain natural teeth next to veneers, causing a noticeable discoloration over time, and you probably want to avoid that.
Get Rid of Bad Habits
You know that using tobacco products is bad for your health in general, but it can be harmful to your oral health in particular. In addition to the many dangers cigarettes and other tobacco products pose to your health, they can also damage natural teeth and crowns due to yellow stains. Kicking tobacco is a good plan if you want to preserve the appearance of pearl coatings and avoid potential health problems.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
You have a lot of power to protect your veneers, natural teeth and oral health in general. With proper oral hygiene and awareness of how different substances can damage veneers, you can take steps to keep your smile looking great for years to come.
However, you should see your dentist regularly for cleanings and examinations. While veneers will not suffer the same kinds of deterioration and decay as teeth, you must maintain healthy teeth and gums to support long-lasting veneers. Dentists not only preserve your natural smile and additions such as crowns and veneers, they can also help you determine when you’re ready for replacement products.