In 1928 when veneers were invented, their main task was to change how actors’ teeth looked temporarily. But by 1982, veneers could be bonded to the teeth permanently, covering up imperfections and discoloration, hiding chips and cracks, and even fixing irregularly shaped teeth, tooth gaps and crookedness. These realistic porcelain shells are almost magical when it comes to giving you teeth perfection. But they also need to last, otherwise the magic will wear off, which is something nobody wants. Let’s take a look at how to best care for veneers and get your porcelain veneer maintenance skills up.
General Veneer Maintenance
Here’s a piece of good news for you: in general, veneers don’t need particularly special care. Although they are porcelain fixtures over your teeth, in order to maintain them you can treat them just like real teeth, and brush and floss as you would normally do. Don’t be afraid to floss and get in between your teeth just like before! While your dentist may have more specific instructions for you, in general you need to maintain basic oral care standards. The first is to brush your teeth twice a day, ideally after every meal. Next, floss your teeth at least once a day, also ideally after every meal. And finally, rinse your mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash once or twice a day.
If You Habitually Grind Your Teeth
Grinding your teeth in the night while you are asleep is not an uncommon problem, do be sure to let your dentist know if they don’t already. This habit puts great amounts of stress on your teeth, and can potentially damage your veneers, and of course also your natural teeth. If you have this issue, you may need a bite guard to keep yourself from damaging your teeth in the night by minimizing the stress placed on your teeth and veneers.
If You Tend To Chew On Hard Objects
Some of us like to crush ice between our teeth, or other things such as nails, bones, pens, and many more. This activity is something that veneers may not be able to stand up to. Veneers are extremely durable, but not as durable as your real teeth, and while it is unlikely that your veneers would chip, chewing does put them at risk of doing so.
If You Enjoy Coffee Or Red Wine
Coffee and red wine are among some of the staining agents that can reduce the brilliant appearance of your veneers. Other such drinks are tea, dark sodas, berries, etc. Smoking is another cause of discoloration so if you want to maintain your veneers, stay away!Considering getting veneers? Contact Dr Alex in NYC for a consultation and get on track to obtaining your perfect pearly whites. Alternatively, if you need some maintenance on your veneers or teeth, Dr Alex is always happy to help. Get in touch today!