Veneers give you a beautiful, flawless smile that is meant to last for years. After you’ve received your dental veneers in Greenfield, now it’s time to care for them properly to ensure they last as long as possible. Keep that beautiful new smile looking amazing with the proper care.
Caring for Dental Veneers
Veneers give your smile timeless beauty, however, veneers won’t last a lifetime. But, with the proper care, your veneers can last up to 15 years before needing to be replaced. The most important aspect of caring for veneers involves maintaining your oral hygiene. Oral hygiene won’t just prolong the longevity of the veneers, but it will keep your mouth and body healthy.
While veneers can’t decay, the remaining exposed areas of the teeth are still susceptible to cavities. As a result, you’ll need to brush and floss your teeth properly to reduce the risk for tooth decay. With brushing and flossing twice a day, you’ll keep your veneers looking great while keeping the teeth strong and healthy.
With strong, healthy teeth, you’ll also avoid gum disease. Gum disease occurs when the gums become irritated and inflamed due to the growth of bacteria. When you have veneers, gum disease is especially bad because the recession of the gum line can cause the top of the veneers to become exposed so you’ll need to keep your gums healthy.
Choose the Right Tooth Brush
You need to use a soft toothbrush with non-abrasive toothpaste when caring for your veneers. Abrasive toothpaste and hard-bristled toothbrushes can actually cause defects to the polish on the veneers. This will dull the appearance of the veneers, giving you a less than perfect smile.
Stop Bad Habits
Caring for your veneers also involves avoiding bad habits that can damage the veneers. For example, you do not want to chew on hard objects. While veneers are durable, chewing on hard objects can eventually lead to chips and cracks because they aren’t as strong as your natural teeth.
You’ll also want to avoid grinding or clenching your teeth. Grinding wears down both your natural teeth and veneers. If you have an issue with grinding your teeth, your Greenfield dentist can fit you with a mouth guard.
While the veneers are fairly stain-resistant, the material that’s used to bond the veneers to the teeth is not. When you consume foods and drinks with dark pigmentation, like fruit juices or coffee, you’re susceptible to staining. Tobacco use can also lead to the discoloration of veneers, especially among the edges. So, it’s best to avoid anything that can stain your teeth.
At Bagley, Goodwin, and Hrinda, PC, we are a family centered general dentistry practice offering cosmetic and restorative dentistry. We provide dental veneers to restore your smile while caring for the health of your teeth. With a commitment to create smiles for a lifetime, we want to see your veneers last as long as possible. We recommend you follow these aftercare tips to keep your veneers looking and functioning as they should for years to come.