How to Care for Dental Veneers and Make Them Last Longer?

Dental veneers can create the impression of a beautiful, straight, and aligned smile, even if a smile has a few chipped or stained teeth. Dental veneers are quite an investment, and like every other investment, they require some upkeep. After a personalized dental veneer treatment, measures should be taken, like improved oral hygiene and more frequent dental check-ups, to ensure they remain in a good condition for a long time.

Veneers are thin rectangular covers that shells can be placed on top of teeth. Usually, they are made of porcelain or composite resin, and designed to be strong and to cover visual imperfections of teeth. Although they are strong and are designed to cover imperfections of a smile, they can be chipped, loosened, or broken, just like any other natural teeth. Because of this, the natural teeth and gums surrounding veneers are still at risk of decay and infection.

Caring for dental veneers investments helps you maintain a beautiful smile that you are confident in.

Brush Gently Twice A Day

Using a soft-bristled toothbrush with caution, brush your veneer and natural teeth at least twice a day.

Veneers can be placed on the front of teeth, but brushing less than regularly can still lead to serious problems like gum disease. The gums, like the veneers, can be damaged as a result of poor brushing techniques. Gums can recede and expose the veneers if too much pressure is applied. Veneers and teeth can be brushed in a circular motion to help maintain veneers as long as possible.

Whitening toothpastes can be more abrasive than brushing regularly. Ask your dentist which is the best non-abrasive toothpaste to use to keep your veneers looking nice and shiny, while also protecting the remaining natural teeth and gums.

Floss Daily

Veneers, like all cosmetic coverings, only shield the front side of your teeth. The areas between your teeth, and the edges of the veneers, are still unprotected and can collect plaque and bacteria.

Flossing daily helps keep your gums healthy, and prevents cavities from forming around your veneers.

Floss gently between your teeth, along the edges of your gums, and do not force the floss. If you’re concerned about your veneers, ask your dentist to show you the safest way to floss.

Avoid Biting Down on Hard Foods

Porcelain veneers have good durability, but they can still chip and crack when too much biting force is applied. Be cautious when consuming ice, hard candy, popcorn kernels, nuts, and bones.

Use your back teeth to chew, and cut foods like apples and raw carrots into manageable pieces.

If you have the habit of biting your nails, chewing on a pen, or using your teeth to open hard to open packaging, you should break those habits now. They can all damage your veneers and natural teeth. The ADA recommends avoiding all of those things to keep your veneers safe.

Limit Food and Drinks That Stain

Compared to your natural tooth enamel, porcelain veneers hold up better and resist staining. However, composite veneers and the epoxy bond still stain and can discolor.

Reduce your consumption of coffee, black tea, red wine, cola, and colored sauces. Drink beverages that can stain your teeth through a straw. Then rinse your mouth out with water.

Staining products like tobacco can also discolour the teeth surrounding your veneers. Tobacco use should be avoided for a prettier smile and a healthier mouth.

Avoid Whitening Products

Products designed to whiten teeth don’t affect porcelain veneers. Without the oversight of a professional, whitening your natural teeth will lead to an unsightly contrast with your veneers.

Whitening toothpastes can be abrasives and affect the surface of dental restorations. Consult with a dentist in Deira Dubai before using any whitening products.

If your veneers look stained, consider a professional cleaning before whitening your natural teeth.

Use a Night Guard if You Have Bruxism

Bruxism is the habit of grinding and clenching your teeth and is done primarily during sleep. This places a lot of pressure on your veneers and the teeth that the veneers are bonded to.

Your dentist may suggest using a customized night guard to protect your veneers while you sleep. This guard will be designed with your specific bite. Making it much more comfortable than a generic night guard that can be found in stores.

Common signs of teeth grinding include jaw pain, facial tension, headaches, and the deterioration of teeth. If you have any of these symptoms, speak with your dentist.

Use A Mouth Guard For Sports

Veneers can easily break if your mouth experiences a sudden impact. For this reason, a mouth guard should be used for contact sports. Since custom fits are more protective, consider a custom mouth guard if you have multiple front veneers.

See Your Dentist Regularly

Going to your dentist regularly allows for your veneers, teeth, and other supporting structures to be monitored. Early signs of major problems can be caught at these appointments.

Cleaning by your dentist also removes the plaque and calculus that routine oral hygiene fails to remove. Tell the dental hygienist that you have veneers so appropriate tools for cleaning will be used.

How often you see your dentist depends on your oral health, your medical history, and your personal risk factors. See your dentist as often as they recommend.

Report Issues Right Away

If a veneer feels rough, loose, or uncustomary, call your dentist. Changes in your bite accompanied by cracks, sensitivity, gums that hurt or are swollen, also need an examination.

You should never try to fix a veneer or put it back on yourself. A dentist will need to inspect the veneer in addition to the supporting tooth in order to evaluate it and determine whether the veneer can simply be smoothed out and polished, repaired, and reattached, or needs to be completely replaced.

Seeking timely treatment will help ensure a small problem doesn’t become a bigger, more complicated problem.

How Long Do Dental Veneers Last?

There isn’t a set amount of time that veneers will last. It depends on the type of veneer, where and how they were placed, the quality of your hygiene, and the amount of force you apply to them. Cleveland Clinic says that dental veneers generally last around 10 to 15 years, although there is a lot of variation and they require good care and maintenance.

Since composite veneers are more susceptible to staining and wear, and as such will require more frequent maintenance, they may need to be replaced sooner than porcelain veneers. Good aftercare and regular follow-up appointments will help maximize the longevity of your treatment.

For Veneers in Deira, Choose Next Care Dental Clinic

Next Care Dental Clinic regularly performs veneer consultations and cosmetic treatments. The dental clinic has a step-by-step process for veneers that includes a consultation, treatment preparation, tooth alterations, impression/s, temporary veneers (if needed), and the final bonding and adjustment of the veneers.

If you want dental veneers, you need a professional assessment at a dental clinic in Deira, because they cannot just give you the veneers straight away. Our team needs to specially craft the veneers to fit your unique facial structure, teeth, gums and bite. If you want the best dental services in Deira, come to the Next Care Dental Clinic and find out about your options regarding composite or ceramic veneers and receive a customized treatment plan. A qualified dentist in Dubai Deira can also inform you about the maintenance and the care of your veneers.

Final Thoughts

There is no need for a complicated routine to care for your veneers. Care for them as you would your teeth. Brush your teeth and veneers gently, and remember to floss daily. Also, be mindful of your habits, and remember to keep up with your dentist appointments.

With proper care of your dental veneers, and professional oversight, you can protect the look of your veneers, while keeping your teeth and gums healthy.