Caring for Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers can fix all the cosmetic complaints that you have about your teeth – from chips to stains to misalignment. Veneers, however, no matter how durable they are, are not self-cleaning, and they aren’t indestructible. Caring for porcelain veneers properly is a critical part of making this popular cosmetic dentistry solution last for decades and still look good.

How to Clean Your Porcelain Veneers

The best way to care for your veneers to keep them looking white, clean, and gleaming is to treat the veneers like your natural teeth. No special tools are necessary. Simply brush at least twice a day, floss once a day, and, of course, see your Manhattan dentist every six months for a dental exam and thorough professional cleaning. You can even ask your dentist about having your veneers polished.

Veneers are made of incredibly strong, stain-resistant porcelain. It would take a lot of effort to make veneers look dingy. This doesn’t mean that it is impossible to stain your veneers, though. Work hard enough at it and you could tarnish that natural-looking white finish.

Eliminate Bad Habits to Maintain Your Veneers

Do you have a bad habit of chewing on pencils, pens, nails, or eyeglass frames? Do you use your teeth to tear open packages or open bottles? Habitual chewing in one spot or using your teeth to do the work of scissors or bottle openers can, over time, do serious damage to your porcelain veneers.  Always keep inedible items away from your veneers.

While there are no food restrictions when you have porcelain veneers, some edible items should be eaten in moderation, if not avoided entirely. If you regularly munch on ice or hard candy, you can damage your veneers by biting down on a lollipop, for example, and leave your mouth susceptible to tooth decay from a constant sugar bath.

Keep Up with Porcelain Veneer Maintenance

Maintaining regular dental hygiene is essential to keeping your veneers in great shape. Veneers collect plaque and tarter just like natural teeth, and only a dental hygienist’s professional tools can truly get to all the build-up and remove it properly.

Remember that you still have natural teeth behind your veneers, and they need TLC too. It’s possible to develop cavities, stains, or other oral health problems in those natural teeth. Keeping them clean is in your best interest for good oral health and to keep your entire smile looking healthy.

Smart Moves to Protect Your Veneers

Veneers or no veneers, a sports-related accident that involves your teeth, gums, and jaw can be incredibly painful. One collision, fall, or elbow to the mouth could destroy your smile.

If your teeth have been enhanced with veneers, the damage inflicted will be costly to repair. If you play contact sports, a mouth guard will help shield your veneers and the rest of your mouth. The small cost of a dental mouth guard is worth it to safeguard your smile, and protect your investment in porcelain veneers.

Clenching and grinding your teeth, usually at night and usually unconsciously, can also damage your porcelain veneers, as well as your original teeth and your jaw. TMJ therapy includes the use of an FDA-approved oral appliance. Not only will this effort to stop night bruxism save your veneers, it could potentially eliminate any related jaw pain or migraines.

Get Porcelain Veneers in Midtown Manhattan

Caring for porcelain veneers takes common sense, respect for the investment you have made, and a desire to maintain a flawless smile makeover for many years. Learn everything you need to know about porcelain veneers from Midtown Manhattan cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael J. Wei. Contact our office to schedule your consultation.