How to Care for Veneers
How to Care for Veneers
Looking after your veneers correctly can extend the life of your porcelain or composite veneers. On average porcelain veneers can last 10 to 17 years and composite veneers can last around 5 years. However, with care your veneers can last for a much longer period. To help extend the life of your veneers and their appearance, read these tips on how to look after veneers below.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
Maintaining a good oral hygiene such as brushing twice a day and flossing once daily can help extend the longevity of your veneers. You should look after veneers as you would your natural teeth. It is important to note that veneers do not stop the build-up of decay on teeth. For this reason, it is important to maintain a high standard of oral health.
As well, aggressive brushing and insufficient dental care can lead to gum recession. This is where the gums start receding around your teeth, and the junction between the veneer and your tooth will become visible. The more recession, the more visible the junction becomes. If those areas become unsightly you may need to replace your veneers.
A good indication of hard brushing is how quickly your toothbrush becomes worn. If you are finding within a month or two of using a new toothbrush it is worn, you are most likely brushing too hard. Try using a soft toothbrush or holding your toothbrush with your fingertips.
Attend 6-Monthly Check-Up and Cleans
Check-up and cleans can help to remove build-up plaque that your toothbrush can not remove alone. If plaque is left to build up, your veneers might need to be removed to access the area. You should also ask your dentist to check your veneers to see if they are still secured or if there are any visible signs of vulnerability.
Seeing the dentist frequently can help detect diseases, abnormalities and early signs of decay. Further, attending regular check-up and cleans is not only important for your health, it also keeps your treatment warranty valid.
Don’t Chew Hard Foods
Anything that can chip or crack your tooth can also chip or crack your veneer. Direct pressure with hard foods on the end of a veneer may cause it damage. For this reason, we recommend avoiding biting directly into hard foods (e.g. ice, raw carrots, corn and nuts). Instead chop them up into small bite sized pieces. If damaged, a veneer will need to be replaced. This also goes for chewing hard objects. If you have a habit of chewing on pens, pencils or opening bottles with teeth, this can be harmful to your veneers.
Avoid Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)
When we become stressed, have an abnormal bite or even a sleeping disorder we might grind our teeth together. Here at Iranian Surgery, we recommend to our patients (especially those with porcelain veneers) to have a nightguard made to help protect teeth during sleep. Teeth grinding or clenching at night in some cases may cause damage to veneers. So, you might consider using night guards.
Avoid Staining Foods
Porcelain veneers are stain-resistant, however, over time certain foods and drink can tarnish their pearly white appearance. The worst offenders for staining veneers are coffee, tea, wine and cigarettes. If you are not ready to give up your favorite drink, try drinking out of a straw as this can limit stains on teeth.
Limit Alcohol Consumption
Large quantities of alcohol can soften the bonding cement that attaches the veneer to the tooth. This leaves the bonding agent prone to damage, erosion and stains. This is not to say the veneer will fall off, it simply makes it more susceptible to outside forces. Alcohol can also be found in toothpaste and mouthwash. So, check the label and make sure your tooth cleaning products are alcohol-free.
Final Word
There is no doubt that porcelain or composite veneers are a great way to improve the appearance of teeth. Although, veneers are not built to last forever, and at some point, you will need to replace your veneers. Using these tips, you can extend the life of your veneers to delay replacement for as long as possible.
About Iranian Surgery
Iranian surgery is an online medical tourism platform where you can find the best dentists in Iran. The price of Veneers in Iran can vary according to each individual’s case and will be determined by an in-person assessment with the doctor.
For more information about the cost of Veneers in Iran and to schedule an appointment in advance, you can contact Iranian Surgery consultants via WhatsApp number 0098 901 929 0946. This service is completely free.
Source:
https://thewhitebite.com.au/blog/how-to-look-after-your-veneers/