Dental veneers are the perfect solution for hiding damaged, chipped or discoloured teeth. If you’re self-conscious about the appearance of your smile for any reason then dental veneer treatment in the GTA can help you get your confidence back. But it’s not enough to simply have veneers installed you also need to know how to properly maintain them so that they can last for a long time.
With that in mind this article explains the proper measures you should take when it comes to how to take care of porcelain dental veneers.
What Are Dental Veneers for Your Teeth?
First, let’s talk about what dental veneers are. As the name suggests, dental veneers are custom-fitted porcelain casings that are affixed directly to your tooth or multiple teeth. Unlike other dental appliances such as braces or Invisalign, veneers aren’t meant to correct dental issues. Instead, they offer improvement of the appearance of your teeth to create a cohesive, clean and healthy looking smile.
Compared to dentures, dental veneers have a much more natural look. However, since they usually don’t stain and your natural teeth can stain you should take proper care of both the veneers and your teeth to keep the appearance as natural as possible.
How to Take Care of Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are meant to look and function exactly like your natural teeth. Hence, the best way to take care of them is to follow the same advice your dentist would give you regarding your natural teeth. Here’s what you should do, regardless of whether or not you’ve undergone dental veneer treatment for your teeth.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene at Home
As always, do everything in your power to ensure your teeth are clean and healthy. This includes maintaining a regular oral hygiene routine at home. Brush your teeth twice a day, once in the morning when you wake up and once in the evening before going to bed. To avoid damaging your teeth and dental veneers, use a soft-bristled brush and a dentist-recommended sensitive tooth toothpaste.
To remove any lingering stuck-on food particles from between your teeth, you should floss at least once per day before going to bed. If possible, try to floss a few times throughout the day in between meals and snacks to really tackle the problem.
Rinse Your Mouth Out Regularly
Understandably, it’s not always possible to floss your teeth in between meals. Ideally, you should be rinsing your mouth out at the very least every time you eat or drink something. This prevents staining and ensures that food particles don’t stay stuck in between your teeth for long periods of time as this can lead to plaque and tartar buildup as well as halitosis (chronic bad breath).
Stop Grinding and Clenching Your Teeth
Many patients are prone to grinding and clenching their teeth either in their sleep or during particularly stressful situations—and it shows. While you can’t always control this bad habit (sometimes, you might not even realize you’re doing it), there are certain remedies to help alleviate this issue. Your dentist may recommend that you wear a protective night guard while you sleep to prevent your teeth from grinding on one another and placing undue pressure on your jaw, which can lead to misalignment and damage your teeth and dental veneers.
Restrict Intake of Tooth-Staining Foods
Tooth-staining foods are practically everywhere and they can often be difficult to avoid for the most part. Just try to be mindful of what you eat and drink. Try to stay away from foods and beverages with heavy chemicals and dyes such as red sauces colas, teas, coffee, etc. If you absolutely can’t go without your morning cuppa joe, then modify your consumption method to prevent it from making direct contact with your teeth as much as possible. Consider using a straw to drink your coffee or tea so that it won’t stain your teeth as much.
Cut Out Junk Food As Much As Possible
Most junk foods contain high amounts of processed or refined sugars and fructose, which can do a lot of damage to your teeth. The high level of sugar in common snack foods lingers on your teeth, eventually causing severe tooth decay. Plus, they’re just not good for you in general, so you should probably avoid eating them even if you don’t have dental veneers.
Quit Smoking and Reduce Your Alcohol Consumption
Like junk food, you already know that smoking tobacco in any form and drinking copious amounts of alcohol is bad for your health. It’s also extremely detrimental to your dental health and can lead to severe tooth decay. Smoking, along with sugars in many well-known alcoholic drinks can stain and rot your teeth over time by restricting much-needed oxygen flow throughout your body.
Go for Regular Dental Checkups
Understandably, going to the dentist isn’t anyone’s favourite thing to do, but it can be highly beneficial to maintaining your oral health post-dental veneer treatment for your teeth. Routine dental checkups and cleanings ensure that your oral and dental health are functioning as they’re supposed to while also quickly identifying and addressing any potential issues that may arise with your dental veneers.
Your dental health professional can remedy any issues after performing a thorough examination. Typically, it’s recommended that you visit your dentist at least once every four to six months, unless you have circumstances that require additional attention.
Make an Appointment for Dental Veneer Treatment in Toronto
Trust the dental health professionals at Princeview Dental Group to administer dental veneer treatment for your teeth. Located in the heart of The Kingsway neighbourhood in Etobicoke, Dr. Janice Mummery has over 25 years of experience working with patients of all ages. We can help you restore the appearance of your smile so that you can show off your teeth with confidence. Book your appointment today!
