When you decide to get a smile makeover and porcelain veneers are part of it, you’re gifting yourself with a long-lasting, beautiful, cosmetic dentistry upgrade. It’s easy to care for porcelain veneers and help them last for decades, as long as you make them a priority in your oral health care routine.
1. Treat veneers like your natural teeth.
Your daily oral health care routine is going to be the most important tool in your kit when it comes to protecting your veneers. If you want to keep your new smile white, clean, bright, and flawless, brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once a day. No special tools are necessary to clean veneers.
2. See your dentist regularly.
Everyone should see their Manhattan dentist every six months for a professional teeth cleaning and dental exam. Veneers collect tartar and plaque just like natural teeth and only your hygienist’s tools and effort can thoroughly remove the gunk. This also gives your dentist an opportunity to look over your veneers and make sure they are secure and without any flaws. These regular visits are also a great opportunity to ask your dentist about having your veneers polished.
3. Watch what you eat.
Your veneers – whether they are traditional veneers, prepless veneers, or Microthin veneers – are made of stain-resistant porcelain. They are super-strong and do resist being tinted away from their beautiful white color. However, if you put some effort into it, you can make your veneers look dingy. Red wine every night, lots of dark sauces and berries, deep curries – any of these foods ingested regularly without proper oral hygiene can tarnish your veneers.
4. Nix the bad habits.
Do you tend to gnaw on ice, pens, your eyeglasses, or your nails? Any extreme pressure like this can chip or damage your veneers in a second. Using your teeth to open packages is also a no-no. Use the proper tools for the proper things and keep your teeth reserved for biting and chewing.
5. Wear a mouth guard.
If you play a sport, professionally or just for fun, you must wear a customized mouthguard to protect your veneers but also your entire oral health. An elbow to the mouth, a ball to the mouth, a collision with another player or the ground – any of these accidents could inflict serious damage on your veneers and lead to costly repairs. It’s easier, less expensive, and more convenient to simply get a personalized mouthguard that protects your entire smile.
If you clench and grind your teeth regularly, this is not only a problem because it causes jaw pain and discomfort, it can threaten all of your teeth. Your veneers could get chipped or cracked because of the excessive pressure. A customized night guard can prevent this problem from developing.
6. Make oral hygiene a priority.
It’s easy to tell yourself that skipping a teeth-brushing or two is no big deal because you have veneers. Your teeth, however, aren’t all about looks – there are still natural teeth under those veneers, and what about the rest of your mouth that isn’t treated with veneers? If you want your veneers to last, you need the rest of your teeth to last too, so don’t skip out on your oral health care routine.
Ready to get the flawless smile you’ve always wanted? Visit Dr. Michael J. Wei and his team to discuss whether you’re a good candidate for porcelain veneers. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Wei or submit a Smile Virtual request for a convenient way to get your smile makeover started.
