Dental veneers are an extremely popular option for improving and restoring healthy, beautiful-looking smiles. Versatile and durable, veneers can correct the appearance of crooked, gapped, or misshapen teeth. But one of their most common applications is to help deeply stained teeth look healthy again.
Park Place Smiles is a leading provider of state-of-the-art dental veneers created from the finest porcelain for a flawlessly natural-looking result. Here, Minal Patel, DDS, reviews some simple tips you can practice to care for your new veneers so they continue to look their absolute best.
Dental veneers can be custom-tinted, so your treated tooth always looks its healthiest and brightest. It’s tempting to think that, like your other teeth, your veneer will maintain its whiteness with regular use of whitening toothpaste.
The problem is that some whitening toothpastes contain abrasives, and over time, they can wind up scratching or dulling your veneers. Not only that, but their whitening agents typically don’t work on veneers, anyway.
Instead, brush regularly using a nonabrasive toothpaste and a soft-bristled brush. Not sure which toothpaste to choose? Ask our team during your visit.
Speaking of visits, veneers benefit from twice-yearly dental exams, just like your natural teeth. Seeing our team every six months allows us to check your veneers for potential issues like tiny cracks or fissures that might not be visible (yet).
It’s also a great time to ensure the veneer adhesive is still strong and, of course, to make sure the underlying tooth and gums are healthy and strong. We can also look for evidence of developing problems that could threaten your veneers (and the tooth and gums that support it).
One issue we’ll look for is evidence of grinding and clenching. You might not think you grind your teeth, but the fact is, many people do so at night while they’re sleeping, so they don’t even realize they have the habit.
Over time, repeated grinding (called bruxism) and clenching can weaken or crack your veneers, while also leading to uneven tooth wear, tooth damage, and receding gums. During your visit, we’ll carefully evaluate your gums and teeth to look for signs of grinding, then recommend a solution like a custom night guard to protect your teeth and your veneers.
Grinding and clenching aren’t the only possible causes of physical damage to your veneers. Chewing or biting on hard objects can crack or break your veneers (and your teeth).
Avoid habits like chewing on a pen or pencil, chewing on ice, and biting down on hard candies. While these habits can be hard to break, avoid them to prevent permanent damage to your restorations and your teeth.
Many people choose veneers to transform deeply stained or discolored teeth and help their smile look its whitest and brightest. While veneers are very resistant to stains, they’re not entirely impermeable. Over time, foods and drinks with deep pigments — natural or artificial — can leave staining residues behind.
While you don’t need to avoid these foods and beverages, you can lessen their potential damaging effects by using a straw or simply rinsing well after eating and drinking. It’s also a good idea to quit smoking since tobacco is a major cause of stains — along with the considerable health risks it causes.
Finally, if you notice any problems with your veneers, the underlying tooth, or the gums surrounding it, call our office right away. Even seemingly minor issues, like a tiny chip or crack in your veneer, can rapidly lead to decay and infection. Call us immediately so we can bring you in for an emergency visit and perform the necessary repairs.
Veneers offer a dramatic improvement for teeth that are stained, misshapen, chipped, crooked, or misaligned. To learn how veneers can transform your smile, call 626-226-1802 or book an appointment online with us at Park Place Smiles in Glendora, California, today.
