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Top 5 Tips for Maintaining Your Porcelain Veneers

Posted by Dr. Julie Boudreault On 31-08-2021

A beaming white smile isn’t something that has to be reserved for anyone.

In fact, just about anyone with a bit of cash lying around can commit to getting porcelain veneers on their teeth for an effortless ivory shine.

However, once you’ve jumped into this wonderful world, you’ll soon realize that you need to take care of these instant perfect teeth if you want to keep them looking good long-term. Not every dentist will give you the instructions for the after-care and maintenance that you might need, but at Milltown Dental, we make sure you know how to take care of your new veneers. Here are the top 5 tips for maintaining porcelain veneers.

1. Don’t skip follow-ups

Once you’ve completed your first new veneer placement it can be tempting to walk out and never return, ready to beam your smile at the world. However, there’s a reason a follow-up visit, scheduled usually for a week later, is important to attend.

This is because there needs to be an evaluation of the treatment and to check if there have been any complications. While it can be annoying, this visit is of the utmost importance. It will allow the dentist to assess the placement of your porcelain veneers to ensure everything is going according to plan.

More importantly, this will give you the opportunity to ask any questions or raise any concerns you may have experienced with your new veneers in the days since your treatment. This appointment will establish what maintenance is required to keep your upgraded teeth looking good.

2. Ask any questions on your mind

Say whatever you want to say and whatever’s on your mind.

For instance, if you have concerns about any oral care habits you have or if you’re unsure about something, don’t hold back. Always ask the dentist to explain exactly what you need to do to preserve the veneers and to maintain your general oral health.

Although the veneers are highly durable, they can be damaged - and it could be the kind of damage that’s incredibly costly to fix. However, if you ask the right questions and follow the dentist’s advice, as well as the tips here, you could have veneers that last for up to 20 years.

Their dependability, functionality, and cosmetic beauty are really quite second to none, making them one of the best ways to easily improve your smile.

3. Continue oral health measures

Just because you have sparkling new white encasings on top of your teeth doesn’t make proper health care any less important. In fact, good dental care may be more important than ever, as your veneer will need all the support it can get to stay shining as bright as the first day you get them.

So, this brings us to the main point. Brush and floss your teeth every day exactly like you used to. Make sure to use non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste and prioritize your oral health.

4. Protect them from excessive grinding

A lot of people have the common problem of clenching or grinding their teeth too much. This can happen if you’re highly stressed, or anxious and tends to be a problem mostly when you’re sleeping. This is not good if you have porcelain veneers and the constant pressure and stress can cause damage to their shiny exterior.

If you’re worried about this happening, or if you have a history of grinding teeth, make sure to tell your dentist. In fact, it’s possible to get a protective bite guard that you can wear when you go to sleep that will help minimize these stresses and damages. So get fitted for one and walk out with everything you need to protect yourself and your investment.

5. Avoid dangerous foods

This is an unfortunate and somewhat restrictive impact of having veneers. You have to avoid food that would be damaging to them. Thankfully, this usually overlaps with food that would be bad for your natural teeth.

For instance, don’t chew on ice or hard candy, as it could cause ugly-looking chips and cracks.

However, on the flip side, things that stain your natural teeth like coffee, blueberries or food dyes are a lot less of a problem and shouldn’t adversely impact your veneers. However, they can stain your natural teeth, which might make a noticeable colour difference over time.

Closing Thoughts

Remember that a smile won’t change your whole life but it could help you feel a lot more confident. A beautiful smile is a great asset and being able to smile without worrying about the appearance of your teeth, enhances your self-esteem and can improve the quality of your life.

By this point, you should have a pretty good idea of how porcelain veneers can deteriorate over time and how you can ensure that this doesn’t happen. You don’t want to have to replace your expensive veneers. However, even with the best advice, things can still go wrong. If this happens, just make an appointment with Milltown Dental. 

To learn more about maintaining porcelain veneers or getting porcelain veneers in Milton, call Milltown Dental at 905-878-8528 or visit us here.

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