How to Maintain and Extend the Life of Dental Veneers
Dental veneers can do a great job of giving you a better smile by improving the appearance of your teeth. After the veneer placement, it is now your job to look after them properly. On average, dental veneers can last up to five years. But, they can last longer and stay beautiful-looking with proper care and maintenance.
Extending the life expectancy of your composite veneers is not a tall order. The following are useful tips to go about it:
Practice good oral hygiene
Take care of your veneers the same way as your natural enamel. Remember that the plaque and cavity buildup will not stop after the placement of veneers. Also, brushing should be done properly, as aggressive brushing can result in gum recession. When the gums recede around the teeth, the junction will be visible between the tooth and the veneer.
More junctions are noticeable if there is more gum recession transpiring. Eventually, those areas will be unsightly; hence, the need for a premature veneer replacement. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush correctly.
Avoid chewing hard foodstuffs.
Your teeth are not immune to cracking or chipping, and so do your composite veneers. Direct contact with a hard object can damage the veneer. With this, it is better not to bite directly on nuts, raw carrots, ice, candies, and other hard foods. There is no need to remove them on your diet but just cut them into smaller pieces.
If you also have a habit of opening bottles using your teeth, and chewing pens, this can damage the composite resin veneers.
Do not clench or grind your teeth.
There are several factors that cause a person to grind or gnash their teeth, for example, having a sleeping disorder, an abnormal bite, or too much stress. This teeth clenching can impact the condition of the veneers. Consider using a dental guard (also known as a nightguard) to protect your teeth and dental veneers while sleeping.
Prevent foods from staining your enamel
While veneers can be resistant to stain, some drinks and foods can cause discolouration over time. The white appearance of your teeth may tarnish due to consuming coffee, wine, and tea. Cigarettes are also the worst offenders. If you cannot give up on those drinks yet, consider using a straw to limit teeth staining.
Lessen your alcohol consumption
During a dental veneer placement, the dentist uses a bonding cement to attach the veneer to the teeth. But, constant drinking and in large quantities can make the bonding cement weak. Although this will not cause the veneer resin to fall off, it can make it vulnerable to outside elements. Note that certain mouthwash and toothpaste have alcohol content, so make sure you are using alcohol-free products.
Visit your dentist every six months.
Having a regular dentist visit for cleaning and check-up can help extend the life of your composite veneers. The dentist will remove plaque buildup that tooth brushing is unable to do. This is also a time for your dentist to examine your dental veneers for any signs of poor habits or improper maintenance. These dentist visits can also help detect abnormalities or diseases.
Dental veneers are not designed to last a lifetime, and you need to replace them at some point. But, the tips mentioned above can delay the replacement and early signs of decaying, as well as maintain your smile for long.
Author Bio Reba Webb is a farmer of words in the field of creativity. She is an experienced independent content writer with a demonstrated history of working in the writing and editing industry. She is a multi-niche content chef who loves cooking new things.
