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What are dental veneers?
Porcelain dental veneers are very thin pieces of porcelain that are used to conceal imperfections and improve an individual's overall appearance. They have the capability of altering the shape, size, length, and colour of your teeth. After treatment, patients with discoloured, broken, chipped, or gapped teeth may feel more confident in their smiles.
Even though porcelain veneers are extremely durable, if you want them to last a long time, you must take proper care of them. They have a lifespan of 10-15 years or even longer if properly maintained. Here are some tips to assist you in caring for and maintaining your porcelain veneers properly.
How to Take Care of Your Veneers
Maintaining your veneers properly is critical if you want them to last. While it is prudent to exercise extra caution with certain items, no special care is required to keep your veneers in good condition. Indeed, maintaining your veneers is simple if you follow these guidelines.
Practice good oral hygiene.
If you already have a solid dental hygiene routine, you probably won’t need to change it to care for your veneers. You just need to brush, flush, and rinse:
- Brush - Use a non-abrasive toothpaste and either a manual or electric toothbrush to brush your teeth at least twice a day; ideally, you should brush after every meal.
- Floss - Floss at least once a day to remove particles caught between teeth and to protect the health of your teeth, veneers, and gums. It’s best to floss after every meal.
- Rinse - To rinse your mouth, swish some antiseptic mouthwash around once or twice a day. Choose an alcohol-free mouthwash to avoid softening the adhesive agents. While this softening will not result in the veneers falling off, it may make them more prone to staining and wear.
Avoid grinding your teeth.
Bruxism is the term used to describe grinding or clenching your teeth while sleeping, and it's a bad habit for patients who have veneers because it puts them under a great deal of stress. It's also detrimental to your teeth and jaw joints, so if you suspect you grind your teeth, schedule an appointment with your dentist immediately. Your dentist can customize a nighttime bite guard for you. Wearing this device while sleeping will guard against damage to your veneers.
Don't chew items that will damage teeth.
While veneers are relatively durable, they are susceptible to chipping and breaking. While most foods should be fine, it's best to avoid chewing on extremely hard materials such as pens, your fingernails, ice, and bones.
Protect your smile from damage.
While physical activity is critical for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, participation in basketball, football, wrestling, and other contact sports may jeopardize the health of your new smile. To avoid damaging your veneers and natural teeth, speak with your dentist about a sports mouthguard.
Be mindful of stains.
As with natural teeth, veneers can stain, so it's a good idea to avoid foods known to stain, such as coffee, red wine, dark sodas, tea, curry, and berries. Smoking is another habit that can result in stains, so if you smoke, you may want to consider quitting; this will not only improve your overall health but will also help keep your veneers white and bright.
Routinely visit your dentist.
Routine dental examinations are critical for individuals who desire healthy teeth. Visiting your dentist approximately every six months will help to protect both your teeth and your veneers by ensuring that any potential problems are identified and treated quickly before they become more serious. Additionally, your dentist or dental hygienist will polish your veneers and maintain their pearly-white gleam using professional equipment.