If you have had braces previously, you are certainly familiar with the difficulties of caring for your teeth and gums whilst coping with brackets and wires. Luckily, veneer maintenance is far simpler. After investing your hard-earned money to repair your teeth, it could be a mistake not to prioritize veneer maintenance to enhance their durability. For the most part, dental veneers can last for up to 15 years. However, by employing a few straightforward, yet efficient procedures, you may extend the lifespan of your Hawthorne veneers much further. Read on to learn more.
1) Maintain Proper Dental Hygiene
Proper dental hygiene practices contribute to not only the health of your teeth, but also the aesthetic and life of your veneers. Similar to natural teeth, veneers are sensitive to plaque and bacterial accumulation, which can result in gum illnesses and tooth decay.
Inadequate dental hygiene might result in receding gums, making the interface between your teeth and veneer extremely obvious. If the condition worsens, you might need to replace the veneer completely.
If you practice proper dental care, veneers are not difficult to maintain. Ensure you brush twice daily, floss at least once every day to eliminate food particles trapped between teeth, and rinse using a non-alcoholic-based mouthwash to avoid harming the adhesive between your teeth and the veneer.
2) Avoid Clenching and Grinding Your Teeth
Nighttime teeth clenching and grinding could trigger porcelain damage, eroding veneers with time. Additionally, extra pressure from grinding could lead to veneer chipping. As a preventative strategy for porcelain veneer maintenance, you should use a mouthguard while sleeping. This recommendation is equally applicable while exploring how to maintain composite veneers.
3) Avoid Chewing Tough Foods
Veneers are quite long-lasting. Nonetheless, they remain susceptible to cracking and chipping. Typical meals may not be a concern, but hard foods may cause harm. Before consuming foods like carrots and nuts, slice them into little pieces to preserve your veneers. Additionally, you must avoid biting on hard items, including pencils, nails, and ice; otherwise, you might have to change your veneers.
4) Regular Dental Checkups
Individuals who desire healthy teeth must undergo routine dental examinations. As a general rule of thumb, you should see your dentist every six months to guarantee that issues are identified early and kept from becoming more significant concerns.
During your routine appointments, your dentist may eliminate plaque in hard-to-reach areas for your toothbrush. Besides, your provider will utilize expert gear to polish and preserve the brightness of your veneers as well as reduce their wear with time.
5) Reduce Smoking and Food Staining
Though porcelain veneers are resistant to stains, some beverages and foods may degrade the veneer’s brightness. Typical illustrations of staining foods and beverages include, but are not limited to, soy sauce, coffee, sodas, and tea. Nevertheless, this suggestion does not stop consuming these foods entirely. Rather, you should minimize intake wherever feasible.
Likewise, cigarette smoke will discolor your veneers. Thus, quitting smoking will be good for veneer aftercare as well as beneficial to your general health.
You should always do your best to care for your veneers, as they may significantly enhance your look and confidence. Unfortunately, despite your best efforts, sometimes your veneer might get damaged, perhaps due to trauma, discoloration, or other oral concerns. If so, you might want to schedule a consultation with cosmetic and general dentist DR. MICHAEL HOANG to explore your solutions. Call the Hawthorne, CA office or request an appointment online today.
