Your porcelain veneers may last if you practice good oral hygiene. That’s why it’s important to continue seeing your dentist after getting porcelain veneers. During your routine checkups, they’ll be able to check the condition of your veneers for signs of wear and tear.
A veneer is a wafer-thin porcelain shell that we’re able to bond to the front of your tooth. You may be a candidate for veneers if you have small chips, cracks, or stains in your front teeth. Likewise, we can use veneers to close small gaps between front teeth.
Here’s what else you need to know.
How Do You Care for Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are more likely to last longer when the rest of the mouth is healthy.
How to Make Your Veneers Last:
- Brush teeth twice daily for two minutes.
- Floss teeth once daily.
- Use fluoride mouth rinse.
- Limit sweets.
- Don’t chew ice or use your teeth as tools.
- See our dentists every six months.
Brush Teeth Twice Daily for Two Minutes
Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Make sure you brush for two minutes so you have enough time to clean all the surfaces of your teeth.
If you always brush your teeth with one foot out the door, you could be leaving behind plaque. As such, it’s not uncommon for people to develop cavities in their back teeth when they rush.
Floss Teeth Once Daily
Plaque loves to hide where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. That’s why it’s so important you floss once a day to remove plaque hiding between teeth and along the gum line.
Flossing helps prevent cavities from forming between teeth.
This simple daily habit can help you can avoid an unpleasant surprise during your next teeth cleaning.
Use Fluoride Mouth Rinse
Fluoride helps strengthen tooth enamel and can even reverse early decay. But it’s important that you wait 30 minutes after using fluoride mouth rinse before eating and drinking. That way, the fluoride has enough time to soak into your enamel.
The healthier your teeth, the more likely your will last a long time. Our cosmetic dentists can help you choose a mouth rinse brand that works for you.
Limit Sweets
Do your teeth ever feel fuzzy or rough? If so, you may be leaving behind dental plaque on your teeth. Plaque loves to eat sugar and uses it to produce cavity-causing acid. You may especially feel plaque on your teeth after eating sugary foods.
Be sure to check labels in the store since many of the foods we assume to be “healthy” aren’t good for your teeth. For example, some flavors of yogurt can have a lot of sugar. Likewise, sports drinks often contain more sugar than the average person would think.
Limiting sugary foods and drinks will make it easier for you to avoid oral health issues.
Don’t Chew Ice or Use Your Teeth as Tools
While porcelain veneers are durable, they’re not invincible. When you chew ice, you’re more likely to chip your veneers and ruin the appearance of your smile. Also, avoid popcorn kernels, hard candies, or other foods that could chip your veneers.
You’ll also need to avoid using your teeth as tools. For example, you could damage your veneers while trying to pry off a bottle cap with your teeth.
See Our Cosmetic Dentists Every Six Months
In general, we recommend that you schedule a teeth cleaning and exam every six months to protect your oral health. Although, our dentists may need to see you more often if they need to closely monitor a chronic oral health issue.
During a teeth cleaning, one of our dental hygienists will remove plaque and tartar. Our dentists also use these appointments to check the condition of your veneers.
Request an Appointment With Us
Dr. Ryan Lebster and Dr. Jose Vivas are cosmetic dentists in Holland, MI. To request an appointment, call the Lakeshore Dentistry & Implant Center at (616) 399-3946. You may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our office will reach out to you soon.
This blog post has been updated.
