How to Look After Your New Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are a smile-enhancing treatment used to fix all kinds of cosmetic issues, from chipped teeth to staining and discolouration. They’re used to close small gaps and can make small or mishappen teeth look even and whole. 

Made from porcelain, veneers match the colour and texture of your natural teeth. When in place, your veneers will look completely life-like. In fact, nobody will know they’re there. 

Once you’ve got veneers, it’s important to take care of them. While your veneers are durable, they require proper upkeep to help maintain them. Not only this but just because veneers cover and protect your natural teeth, taking care of your oral health is just as important as ever. 

This guide discusses some essential tips for caring for your new dental veneers to ensure your smile stays looking amazing for longer. 

What Are Dental Veneers?

Dental veneers are fine porcelain coatings for your teeth. For all intents and purposes, your new veneer will look exactly the same as a natural tooth. Dental veneers cover the front of your teeth, giving them a very effective makeover. 

Loved by A-listers, veneers are a popular cosmetic treatment suited to anyone that’s unhappy with the appearance of their smile. 

What Can Dental Veneers Fix?

Many people opt to get dental veneers to improve their confidence in their smile. This life-changing treatment helps you improve your self-esteem. For many, this can help socially and professionally. 

Veneers can help:

• Repair chipped, cracked, or damaged teeth
• Cover stained or discoloured teeth
• Close small gaps between your teeth
• Help create a more uniform look to your teeth

How Long Should Your Dental Veneers Last?

As with any other cosmetic treatment, you will want to know how long the benefits will last. The exact length of time will vary, and much rides on how much attention you pay to look after them.

Typically, dental veneers should last for between 10-15 years. 

Caring for Your Dental Veneers

Porcelain veneers look like your natural teeth; however, they’re not quite as strong as the enamel that naturally coats your teeth.

Looking after your veneers will keep them looking great for years to come and will help maintain their integrity. Just like your natural teeth, bacteria can harm them. Tooth decay and gum disease could affect the health of your smile, causing your veneers to fail. 

Here are some essential tips to help you care for your new celebrity smile. 

Brush Your Teeth 

Perhaps the most important aspect of caring for your dental veneers is to brush your teeth. Although they’re porcelain and stain-resistant, if you neglect the most basic care, the health of your smile will suffer. 

You should brush your teeth twice each day. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and flouride toothpaste. It doesn’t matter whether you use a manual or electric toothbrush, as long as you’re thorough. Brush every surface of your teeth, paying careful attention to the edges. 

Floss Daily

Bacteria lurk in the parts of your mouth your toothbrush can’t quie reach. An interdental brush or dental floss can help you remove any food debris and bacteria from between your teeth. 

Flossing daily helps keep the sides of your teeth healthy. Because you can’t see the sides of your teeth, flossing helps prevent unwanted suprirses in the future. 

Use Mouthwash

When you brush, don’t rinse using water, as this could wash away the fluoride from your toothpaste. 

Using mouthwash can help fight bacteria and reduce plaque buildup; however, don’t use it immediately after brushing your teeth. Even if your mouthwash has added fluoride, rinsing after brushing undoes the positive effect of your toothpaste. 

Bite and Chew With Care

Although we’ll firmly fix your dental veneers onto your natural teeth, it’s still possible to damage or dislodge them if you don’t take care. Hard and sticky foods may cause problems. Avoid anything like popcorn kernels or hard sweets, and don’t crunch on ice 

Avoid Biting Your Nails

If you’re a nail-biter, it’s important to put this habit to rest. Biting your nails could break your veneers. If you nibble on pen lids while you’re concentrating, this is also something you need to quit. 

Similarly, you shouldn’t use your teeth as a tool. Don’t use them to loosen screws or remove bottle tops. 

Watch for Stains

When you get your veneers, you’ll have a bright, fresh smile— and you’ll want to keep it that way. While your porcelain veneers are quite stain-resistant, they can still pick up discolouration from food, drink, and tobacco smoke. 

Foods like dark berries, soy sauce, spices and beverages like coffee, tea, and red wine can all take the shine away from your veneers. Avoiding anything that could cause stains or brushing your teeth soon after will help limit discolouration. 

If you’re a smoker, you should consider quitting. Not only will breaking the habit improve your overall health, but it’ll also help you preserve the look of your dental veneers.  

See Us Often

Regular checkups are important for maintaining a healthy smile. During a routine examination, we check the health of your teeth and gums and suggest preventative steps to avoid later problems. 

But it’s not just your teeth that we look at. We’ll also be looking at the condition of your dental veneers. A checkup with us will help ensure your veneers look great for as long as possible. We recommend coming to see us every six months. 

Dental Veneers at Love Teeth

Dental veneers improve the appearance of your smile. Although they are designed to take the same day-to-day wear and tear as your natural teeth, they’re not indestructible, and the health of your smile is still at risk from tooth decay and gum disease. 

At Love Teeth, we don’t just place perfect-looking porcelain veneers; we help you care for them. With clinics in Cheam, Chessington, Stonecot, Sutton, and Worcester Park, it’s easy to access the exceptional dentistry we provide. Call us today to schedule your dental veneer care appointment.