7 Tips to Take Care of Dental Veneers

What Are Dental Veneers?

They are tooth-shaped, tooth-colored oral appliances that repair and rebuild teeth’ enamel. Ideally, dental veneers in Danbury, CT, replace the front surfaces of damaged or flawed teeth’ enamels to improve a smile’s appearance.

In cosmetic dentistry, there are two types of dental veneers:

• Composite veneers – feature composite, a white resin material that serves many functions in dentistry. They provide an affordable solution for masking dental flaws to improve a smile. The better news is that you can reverse composite veneers since little to no preparation is necessary during the procedure.
• Porcelain veneers – features porcelain, a sturdy tooth-colored shell that restores teeth in dentistry. Even though porcelain veneers are costlier than composites, they are more popular because porcelain is sturdier and more natural-looking than composite. Besides, porcelain veneers last longer than composites.

How Should You Take Care of Your Veneered Teeth?

Generally, the better care you take of your dental veneers, the longer they will last. At Danbury Smiles – George Landress, DDS, MAGD, we give our patients the following tips for caring for their veneered teeth to increase their longevity:

• Keep up good oral hygiene – a clean mouth discourages bacterial infections in your teeth and gums. Even though veneers are not your natural teeth, they are susceptible to plaque and tartar. Besides, compromised oral hygiene encourages infections like gum disease that cause receding. Eventually, you will realize a visible junction between your natural teeth and the veneers. It can be severe enough to necessitate a different procedure by your cosmetic dentist in Danbury, CT, to replace your veneers or get dental crowns.
• Use the right products – cleaning your mouth does not mean using a hard-bristled toothbrush. Instead, use a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to lean your teeth and veneers. Liaise with your dentist to learn the correct technique for brushing your teeth gently to avoid abrasion. Your dentist may even recommend using special whitening toothpaste with mild abrasives, keeping your teeth white and bright without wearing down your veneers.
• Avoid grinding your teeth at night – grinding places unnecessary pressure on your teeth that can chip, crack or break your dental veneers. If you suffer from chronic teeth grinding, also called bruxism, you need to consult your dentist in Danbury, CT, for treatment. You may require to wear a night guard in your sleep to alleviate the pressure on your teeth from the grinding effect.
• Reduce your alcohol intake – if you care about your oral health, the first thing you should cut down on is alcohol. It risks damage to your natural and veneer teeth. Besides, the alcohol weakens the bond between your veneers and natural teeth, potentially resulting in dental veneer failure. Further, alcohol heightens the susceptibility of corrosion, decay, and staining of your dental veneers.
• Avoid eating hard and crunchy foods – although porcelain is a sturdy material for repairing and restoring teeth, it is not comparable to natural teeth. Chewing hard foods risks chipping, cracking, or breaking your dental veneers. If you must eat hard foods, consider cutting them into small pieces, for example, nuts, carrots, and apples. While at it, abandon poor oral habits that place unnecessary pressure on your teeth. Examples include fingernail biting or chewing on lids and pens.
• Visit your dentist often – getting dental veneers should not be the last time you visit your dentist. Routine dental exams and cleanings are paramount for maintaining good oral health. Any dentist will recommend regular dental visits every six months.
• Minimize your consumption of staining foods and drinks – coffee, red wine, pasta sauces, tomatoes, and dark berries are highly pigmented foods and drinks that can easily stain your teeth. Bear in mind that you cannot whiten dental veneers. Therefore, you may need to replace your veneer teeth if you stain them.

What to Do If My Veneers Are Damaged?

If you have porcelain veneers, expect them to last 10 – 20 years. Composite veneers last a shorter period, usually 5 – 10 years. Either way, your dental veneers can incur damage too early that you need retreatment. Be quick to reach out to your veneer dentist to replace or repair your dental veneers.