Cosmetic dentistry is strong, durable, and long-lasting. However, every tooth in your mouth, whether it has gotten the smile makeover treatment or not, is susceptible to damage, especially if you’re noshing on Halloween candy. Be cautious as you dig into this holiday and take good care of your smile – there are more tricks than treats when it comes to sweets. Here are just some of the ways Halloween candy can damage your cosmetic dentistry.
1. Stains
Any candy that makes your tongue change color can stain your teeth. Think about lollipops, popsicles, hard candy, even some chewing gum. Though porcelain veneers are stain-resistant, if you consistently eat stain-causing sweets, you’ll put that smile makeover to a major test. Anyone with professional teeth whitening can be affected by stains too – depending on what you eat, your bright, white results could disappear much faster than they should.
Keep up with your careful brushing and flossing and add an extra session every time you indulge in something particularly staining. It doesn’t take much effort to keep your teeth white as long as you’re cautious and maintain a good oral hygiene routine.
2. Removal
Some people simply cannot stay away from chewy candies on Halloween – gummy worms, taffy, gum, caramel, and the like. These delicious temptations, though, can wreak havoc on your cosmetic dentistry. If you have a porcelain crown, tooth-colored filling, dental bridge, or other dental restoration you risk it by biting and chewing these tasty but damaging candies. If something sticks the wrong way on those carefully cemented repairs, they could be pulled right out.
Losing a dental restoration is a dental emergency and it’s important to contact your NYC dentist right away.
3. Breaks
Even though cosmetic dental work is made from incredibly strong materials and meant to last for a long time, you must still take care of your teeth and the smile makeover you invested in. This means making smart choices about eating any candies that could break, chip, or crack your smile makeover. Hard candy, lollipops, jawbreakers, and candy apples are some of the biggest offenders when it comes to breaking teeth – they can damage your natural teeth but also your veneers or crowns.
Chipping a tooth or veneer or crown has the same consequences: The potential to let in bacteria, plaque, and food particles. That seemingly innocuous little break could turn into an infection and the need for root canal therapy and other dental care.
Protect Your Cosmetic Dentistry
There is no reason you can’t enjoy all the candy you love on Halloween, with or without cosmetic dentistry, but it’s important to attack the sweets in moderation and consider the health of your teeth before you bite down. Your smile has been made to last, but there are always ways to destroy the careful work of your cosmetic dentist – don’t ruin the smile makeover you worked so hard for just to indulge in some candy.
If your cosmetic dentistry has been damaged for any reason, contact Dr. Michael J. Wei right away to schedule an appointment.
