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How to Take Care of Your Veneers

How to Take Care of Your Veneers

With the help of porcelain veneers, your smile can be picture-perfect. Veneers are bonded to the front of teeth to hide imperfections, cover gaps, change the shape of your teeth, and improve the appearance of your beautiful smile.

Porcelain veneers are a popular cosmetic dentistry option available at Soothing Dental in Midlothian, Texas.  

Taking special care of your veneers is the best way to extend their lifespan and ensure healthy teeth with a new smile makeover.

The Basics About Veneers

Porcelain veneers are thin shells bonded to the front teeth to improve the look of your smile. They are specially crafted to match the color, size, and shape of your natural teeth for a beautiful, consistent appearance.

The process of bonding veneers to your teeth is simple and pain-free. Once they are in place, they are quite durable and have the potential to last decades.

We highly encourage you to follow the guidelines below when caring for your veneers. This will help keep them in good condition and improve the lifespan of your veneers.

Simple Tips to Practice Good Oral Hygiene Daily

  • Your personal oral hygiene routine will keep your veneers looking their best and improve the appearance of your teeth.
  • Brushing your teeth on a regular basis twice daily for two minutes can benefit your long-term dental health.
  • Dental veneers cannot develop cavities; however, they can become discolored over time and collect plaque and bacteria.
  • You may use fluoride mouth rinse daily after using dental floss.
  • Fluoride mouthwash will prevent harmful bacteria from forming in your veneers.

Protect Your Teeth When Playing Sports

  • Veneers are durable but can break under high-impact contact sports.
  • You can protect your veneers and the rest of your teeth by using a mouthguard when playing sports.
  • The mouthguard will minimize the direct pressure on your teeth and prevent them from breaking.

Limit Foods and Drinks that Cause Discoloration

  • Porcelain veneers are designed to match your natural teeth, but it is still possible to create surface stains.
  • It can be a good idea to avoid eating and drinking stain-inducing foods like coffee, tea, fruit juices, red wine, berries, soy sauce, dark sodas, hard candy, and other dark foods and drinks.
  • Smoking can also impact the color of your veneers.
  • A drinking straw can help prevent dark liquids from touching your veneers and keep the color of your teeth.

Avoid Grinding and Clenching Teeth

  • Bruxism is the condition of grinding and clenching your teeth.
  • People typically grind their teeth when sleeping, but this can also occur when they are awake, sometimes during tense moments.
  • Over time, grinding your teeth can wear down teeth enamel and increase the risk of chipping your veneers.
  • Veneers can become damaged when chipped or cracked.
  • Using a bite guard or mouthguard at night will help protect your teeth from grinding and help care for the life of your veneers.

Visit the Dentist Regularly

Keep going to your regular dental visits every six months! Your dentist will keep an eye on your veneers and let you know if there are any problems to address. Regular dental checkups are a great way to keep your natural teeth in good condition throughout the year. We’ll be able to prevent small dental issues from becoming larger and improve overall health.

Questions About Veneers?

If you have questions about taking proper care of your dental veneers, feel free to contact our office in Midlothian, Texas. At Soothing Dental, we strive to educate you about the importance of dental health. We welcome your questions!

If you do not have veneers but wonder if they might be a good option for your teeth, contact us to schedule a consultation. We’ll examine your teeth and provide you with a comprehensive treatment plan that could include cosmetic treatments such as porcelain veneers.