When you’ve undergone a smile makeover comprised of porcelain veneers, prepless veneers, or Microthin veneers, you have made a major investment in your oral health. You want this smile upgrade to last for decades – and it will, with proper aftercare of your porcelain veneers.
Basic Care for Porcelain Veneers
Don’t be mistaken – porcelain veneers do not require a lot of upkeep. In fact, there are three basic things you need to do to keep them looking good:
- Brush twice a day with a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste. No special tools are needed to clean your veneers beyond the basics.
- Floss at least once a day. Yes, you can and should get in between your new veneers.
- Visit your NYC dentist every six months for a check-up and teeth cleaning to maintain a solid, strong foundation for your veneers so they can last for decades.
That’s the basics. That’s how you take care of your teeth whether you have veneers or not. These daily and bi-annual tasks will keep your veneers in excellent shape.
Advanced Care for Veneers
Now, there are a few things that you should not be doing when you have veneers, and avoiding these behaviors will also ensure that your smile makeover remains stunning and flawless.
- Do not bite down on hard items. Veneers are designed to endure the daily wear and tear of teeth, but abnormally high pressure can cause damage. Don’t gnaw on pen caps, bite your fingernails, or chew on ice. Veneers are tough, but they’re not a tool for anything more than biting and chewing your food.
- Get a mouthguard. If you are someone who grinds and clenches their teeth, especially during sleep, it’s a good idea to be fitted for a customized mouthguard. Don’t worry about wearing this appliance over your veneers every night. Without a guard in place, you will suffer physical discomfort and could potentially damage your veneers from the pressure of teeth on teeth.
Best Practices When You Have Veneers
Your dentist will examine your veneers at every dental visit to ensure that they’re still bonded in place properly and are not compromised in any way. In between these appointments, you can watch out for signs of trouble:
- Pay attention to your bite: When your veneers are adhered to your teeth, your dentist will adjust them to ensure that they fit properly and feel right. If your veneers seem misaligned or loose, make an appointment to have them checked. Ill-fitting veneers can cause dental problems in the future.
- Be patient: It can take several days and sometimes even a few weeks to get used to the presence of your veneers. After all, your smile looks completely different now – for the better – and feels different too. You will bite, chew, and function with new teeth, and none of the drawbacks of your old smile will be present.
- Adopt good habits: Porcelain is stain resistant, and your veneers will be too, but there is no need to push your luck and go crazy with coffee, tea, colas, dark sauces, and berries. You can have all these things, without limitations, but be sure to brush and floss afterward to maintain the beauty of your veneers.
Ready to find out if one of the many types of veneers offered by Dr. Michael J. Wei at his Midtown Manhattan dental office is right for you? Contact us to schedule a consultation.
